



* ^^'% 





















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Page 10. 



PUBLIC SQ,UARE IN WARSAW. 




Page 11. 



PALACE AND HUT IN WARSAW. 




POLES IN SUMMER DRESS. 




Page 14. 



POLISH LADY AIVD GENTLEMAN. 




Page 18. 



WILD HORSE AXD WOLVES. 




Paoe 19. 



THE ELK. 



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Page -20. 



NEST OF THE TITMOUSE. 




Page 21. 



JEWISH USURER. 




Page 23. 



CATHEDRAL AT CRACOW. 




Page 25. 
SOBIESKI AND HIS MEN BEHOLDING THE TURKISH CAMP. 




Page 29. 
THE CHAM OF TARTARY RECEIVING THE POLISH OFFICER. 




Page 3-. 
SOBiESKI POINTING OUT TO HIS SOLDIERS THE EAGLE. 




X STORIES OF POLAND. 



BY ROBIN •6aRVER. 



Y 




BOSTON: 

CARTER, HENDEE; AND CO. 

1833. 



Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1833, 

BY CARTER, HENDEE, AND CO. 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts. 



LANCASTER PRESS. 
CARTER; ANDREWS, AND CO., PRINTERS. 



TO MY YOUNG READERS. 



You are desirous to learn about the history of 

Poland, because it is the history of a brave, though 

an unfortunate, people. It is a people now fallen 

but not dishonoured, xscattered but not destroyed, 

chained but not crushed. We may yet see them a 

free and happy nation. 

ROBIN CARVER. 



CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. Description of Poland.— Warsaw.— Its inhabitants- 
Trade. — Ride about the country. — Peasants. — Costumes. 9 

CHAPTER II. Exercises and amusements. — Houses. — The No- 
bility. — An entertainment. — Animals. The Elk 5 the Bohac 5 
the Titmouse. — Grottos. — The Jews. - - - 16 

CHAPTER III. Cracow.— Old Palace.— Cathedral.— Burial of a 
King. — Monuments. — Charles XII. at the tomb of Sobieski. — 
Sobieski. — His battles with the Turks. — Made king. — Defeat of 
the Turks. — Siege of Trembowla. — Sobieski raises the siege. 22 

CHAPTER IV. Sobieski.— His wars with the Turks.— Troubles 

with his wife. — Th Tartars besiege Vienna. - - 29 

CHAPTER V. Sobieski marches to Vienna.— Views the Turkish 
Camp. — Disturbs the Vizier at his cup of coffee. — The Vizier 
and the Cham. — Defeat. — Sobieski enters Vienna in triumph. 36 

CHAPTER VI. About the salt mines.— Different kinds of salt.— 

Chapels of salt. — Palace of Casimir the Great. - - 42 

CHAPTER VII. A splendid entertainment. — Villa near Warsaw. — 
Gardens. — A Turkish tent. — An illuminated bridge. — A pavil- 
ion. — Music and Dancing. . . - - 47 

CHAPTER VIII. Story of Stanislas Leczinki. - - 53 

CHAPTER IX. Escape of the King from Dantzic, and his numer- 
ous adventures with the Cossacks. - - - 59 



VI CONTENTS. 

Page 

CHAPTER X. Conclusion ofthe King's story. . - 66 

CHAPTER XI. About the Patriots. ... 73 

CHAPTER XH. Daring attempt to sieze the King. - 79 

CHAPTER XHI. Story of Kosciusko. ... 86 

CHAPTER XIV. About Constantino and his cruelties. - 91 

CHAPTER XV. First night of the Revolution. - - 96 
CHAPTER XVI. Rejoicings in Warsaw.— Choice of a leader.— 

Description of Pulawa. — Prince Czartoriski. - - 103 
CHAPTER XVII. The Grand Duke.— His encampment.— The 

Russian prisoners. — March of the Grand Duke. - 108 

CHAPTER XVIII. The Revolution, continued. - - 119 

CHAPTER XIX. The Revolution, continued. - - 127 

CHAPTER XX. Story of Antoinette. - - - 132 

CHAPTER XXL Fall of Warsaw.— Conclusion. - • 138 



STORIES OF POLAND. 



STORIES OF POLAND. 



CHAPTER I. 

Description of Poland. — Warsaw. — Fts inhabitants. — Trade. — Ptide about 
the Country. — Peasants. — Costumes. 

The Poles are a very brave people, and as all 
my little friends know, have been fighting bravely 
for their liberties. The Russians are strong and 
tyrannical, and for a great many years have been 
able to govern the Poles, and treat them as cru- 
elly as they pleased. I have been in Poland, 
and am going to tell you all about the country, 
and the people who live in it. I know that 
there is not a nation in the world, you w^ant to 
hear about so much. 

Take the map and look at Poland. You see 
it is a very small country by the side of its huge 

2 



10 STORIES OF POLAND. 

neighbor, Russia, and that though a very brave 
nation, its inhabitants are a mere handful com- 
pared with the Northern barbarians. The word 
Poland means ^a flat land.' It is so called, be- 
cause there is hardly a hill or a mountain through 
the whole of it, except upon the borders. 

The capital of Poland is a very famous city 
called Warsaw, situated upon the river Vistula. 
A few years ago there were a great many thou- 
sand people living there, from all countries. 
When you walked along the streets, you would 
meet Jews with hanging grey beards, Turks in 
their robes and turbans, polite Frenchmen just 
from Paris, and savage looking Russian soldiers, 
passing to and fro in all directions. 

Once in a while, you would see the true old 
Polish nobleman, with moustaches, girdle, sabre 
and red or yellow boots. Here you would see 
a small party of nuns, with long veils, walking 
by themselves ; and there some young ladies, in 



STORIES OF POLAND. 11 

bright silk mantles, talking and tripping through 
the public squares. 

There are four thousand houses in Warsaw, 
and about a thousand of them are thatched with 
straw. The palaces are very splendid, and or- 
namented in the finest Italian style. They are 
built side by side with miserable wooden huts, 
which look as if they were going to tumble over 
the heads, of the poor people who live in them. 
Where there are a great many palaces, there is 
always a great deal of wretchedness. 

Warsaw has been from an early age quite a 
trading city, and it still retains some of its large 
business. The principal articles of manufacture 
are cloth, linen, carpets, stockings and carriages. 
Twice a year they have a great fair here, when 
the city is filled with merchants from the most 
distant parts of the kingdom, and from foreign 
countries. 

As they made very fine carriages at Warsaw, 



12 STORIES OF POLAND. 

I bought a cheap one and rode over the country. 
It was varied with fruitful fields, heaths, dark 
woods, marshes and moors. Sometimes I found 
myself upon an open place, without a single tree 
or house to be seen, any where around. Soon, 
however, the borders of some dark forest would 
appear before me, and I would ride for eight or 
ten miles, with nothing in view but trees and 
shrubbery. 

Once in a while, in the midst of a forest, I 
would meet a littUe spot of ground, of twenty or 
thirty acres, cleared up and cultivated, prettily 
fenced in by the borders of the green woods. 
Here and there is a httle lake, ornamented in a 
similar manner, and fringed about with over- 
hanging trees. These are some of the prettiest 
scenes in Poland. 

The country is generally cultivated by poor 
peasants, who live with their cattle in wooden 
hutg, consisting of one room, with a stove, and 



STORIES OF POLAND, 13 

covered with thatch or shingles. Their com- 
mon food is cabbage, potatoes, sometimes pease, 
black bread, and gruel, without butter or meat. 
Their chief drink is water, which they are very 
fond of mixing with whiskey. They have Httle 
furniture or clothing. They keep about twenty 
holidays in the year, besides the Sundays, and 
pass much of their time in telling beads, and 
making pilgrimages* 

These peasants are chiefly occupied in rais- 
ing corn, hemp and flax, and in taking care of 
cattle. Poland might be made to supply all 
Europe with grain. But they have very wretch- 
ed instruments of husbandry, and know nothing 
about the proper cultivation of the soil. The 
sheep are very poor, and the cows are small, 
badly kept, and yield very little butter and no 
good cheese. 

The summer dress of the peasants consists of 
a shirt and drawers of coarse linen, and round 



14 STORIES OF POLAND. 

caps or hats, without shoes or stockings. In 
winter they wear sheep skins, with the wool 
inwards. Their boots are of the rinds of trees, 
wrapped about the legs, with the thicker parts 
to guard the soles of their feet. The women of 
the poorer class wear upon their heads a wrap- 
per of white linen, under which the hair is braid- 
ed, and hangs down to the middle. 

The men of all ranks generally wear whisk- 
ers, and shave their heads, leaving only a circle 
of hair upon the crown. The dress of the high- 
er orders, both of men and women, is extremely 
elegant. That of the gentlemen is a waistcoat 
without sleeves, with an upper robe of a differ- 
ent colour, reaching below the knee, and fasten- 
ed round the waist with a sash or girdle. 

The sleeves are, in warm weather, tied behind 
the shoulders. In summer, the robe is of silk ; 
in winter of cloth, velvet, or stuff edged with 
fur. A sabre is the mark of nobility. Fur 



STORIES OF POLAND. 15 

caps and bonnets are much worn, and buskins 
of yellow leather, the heels of which are plaited 
with iron or steel. The dress of the ladies is 
a simple long robe edged with fur. 



CHAPTER II. 

Exercises and amusements. — Houses. — The nobility. — An entertainment. 
—Animals.— The Elk.— The Bohac— The Titmouse. —Grottoes. —The 
Jews. 

I HAVE told you what I saw of the dresses of 
the Poles, and I will now tell you something 
about their persons and manners. They are 
usually of fair complexion, and, in their bodies, 
are well shaped, and well proportioned. 

They are fond of all sorts of manly exercises 
and amusements ; such as riding, hunting, skat- 
ing, and baiting bulls and bears. They are very 
fond of travelling on horseback. A Polish gen- 
tleman, who can afford to keep his horse, will 
not go an hundred yards without one. They 
are so hardy that they will sleep upon the ground, 
in frost or snow, without any bed or covering. 

The Poles never lie above stairs, and their 
apartments are all separate. The kitchen is on 



STORIES OF POLAND. 17 

one side, the stable on another, the dwelling 
house behind, and the gate in front. They con- 
tent themselves with a few small beds, and it is 
said that, when a stranger lodges at their houses, 
he must carry his bedding with him. I was 
frequently invited, however, to spend the night 
at houses in which I met very kind people, who 
always had a bed of their own to spare for me. 

The nobility somietimes had great dinners 
and suppers, where they were entertained with 
trumpets and other music, and were waited 
upon at table by a large number of gentlemen. 
The noble families in Poland were said to 
amount to sixty thousand. Of these a great 
many are very poor indeed, and are obliged to 
be servants to the rich. 

At an entertainment, the Poles lay neither 
knives, forks nor spoons, but every guest brings 
them with him. A nobleman usually gives his 
servant a piece of meat, which he eats standing 



18 STORIES OF POLAND. 

behind his master's chair, and then drinks out 
of the same cup with him. Bumpers, or full 
glasses emptied at one time, are much in fash- 
ion at these feasts. 

I very often saw the lady of a Polish grandee, 
besides a coach and six with a great number of 
servants, attended by an old gentleman usher, 
an old woman for her governess, and a dwarf of 
each sex to hold up the back part of her gown, 
which is made very long and called a train. At 
night, her coach is always surrounded by a great 
number of torches or flambeaux. 

I am now going to tell you about the animals 
of Poland. In the forest of Warsovia there are 
a great many buffaloes, wolves, boars, deer, wild 
horses and wild oxen. There is also a kind of 
wolf resembling a hart, with spots on his belly 
and legs, and with very fine fur, which is the 
best in the country. 

The elk is also found there. This animal has 



STORIES OF POLAND. 19 

a body like a deer, only thicker and longer. It 
has high legs, feet broad and cloven, large, rough 
and broad hams, like those of a wild goat. Upon 
dissecting an elk, large flies were found in its 
head, which had eaten away its brains. In the 
forests of the North of Europe, the elks are 
attacked in this manner, and from their weak- 
ness fall an easy prey to the hunter. The flesh 
of the elk is considered a very great luxury. 

Another animal of Poland is the bohac, which 
seems to be of the beaver kind, and is some- 
thing like a guinea-pig, which perhaps you have 
seen. These fellows dig holes in the ground, 
which they enter in October, and do not leave 
again, except once in a while for food, till April. 
They have separate apartments for their pro- 
visions and lodgings, and lie together in herds 
of ten or twelve. 

I never saw a quail in Poland, near enough to 
examine it. This bird here, however, is said to 



20 STORIES OF POLAND. 

have^ green legs and to be unwholesome. The 
titmouse is often found here, and its nest is quite 
a curiosity. It is made long, and hangs down 
like a purse. 

The head of this bird is of a pale, bluish ash- 
colour, the fore part of the neck and the breast 
tinged with red, the belly white, wings black, 
tail rust-coloured. The male is known from the 
female, by a pair of black pointed whiskers. 

The nest is in the shape of a long purse, as I 
have before told you. It is formed by weaving 
together down and gossamer, in a snug manner, 
and lining the inside with down, so as to make 
a warm place for its young. The entrance w at 
the side, and is small and round. 

This nest is carefully hung from the extremi- 
ty of the slender twig of a willow, or some other 
tree, over a river. It is very curious, as you see 
from the plate. 

Under the mountains adjoining Kiow, in the 



STORIES OF POLAND. 21 

deserts of Podolia, there are several grottoes, 
where a great number of human bodies have 
been preserved, though buried a vast number of 
years ago. They are neither so hard nor so 
black, as the mummies that have been found in 
Egypt. Among them are two princes, in the 
habits they used to wear. It is thought that 
these bodies have been preserved by the nature 
of the soil, which is dry and sandy. 

I must tell you a word or two about the Jews. 
There are a very great number of them in Po- 
land, and they were for ages the only persons 
who were engaged in trading to foreign coun- 
tries. Almost all the m.oney in the kingdom 
was in their hands, and for a great many years 
there was very seldom a theft or a law-suit, in 
which a Jew was not one of the parties con- 
cerned. 



CHAPTER III. 

Cracow. — Old palace. — Cathedral. — Burial of a king. — Monuments. — 
Charles XII. at the tomb of Sobieski. — Sobieski. — His battles with 
the Turks. — Made king. — Defeat of the Turks. — Siege of Trembowla. 
— Sobieski raises the siege. 

I AM now going to tell you about the city of 
Cracow. It was once the capital city of Poland, 
and the place where her kings were crowned. 
It is built on a large plain, watered by the river 
Vistula. There are seventy churches and chap- 
els in this city, besides several magnificent con- 
vents, and a celebrated cathedral. 

On the top of a high rock in the southern 
part of the town, is a palace or castle, surround- 
ed with brick walls and old towers. The re- 
mains consist of a few rooms, which are left in 
about the same state, in which they were more 
than an hundred years ago. In one of these 
rooms is an old picture of a coronation, or 



STORIES OF POLAND. 23 

the ceremony of crowning the king, but there is 
no furniture in any of them. 

I have told you there was a famous cathedral 
at Cracow. A cathedral is a church over which 
a bishop is placed. This one has a great many 
altars, and twenty chapels. Most all of the 
kings of Poland are buried here. The PoUsh 
laws were very singular in this respect. 

When a king died, his body was carried to 
Warsaw. It remained there till a new king 
was chosen, and it was then conducted in great 
pomp to Cracow. Two days before the coro- 
nation, the new king, attended by his officers of 
state, joined the funeral procession, and follow- 
ed the body to the church of Saint Stanislaus. 
The burial service was there performed, and the 
remains were placed in the cathedral, adjoining 
the palace. 

The tombs and monuments, erected for the 
kings of Poland, are not remarkably magnificent. 



24 STORIES OF POLAND. 

Their figures are carved in marble, of indifferent 
workmanship, and some are without any inscrip- 
tions. 

When the celebrated king of Sweden, Charles 
XII, entered Cracow, he visited these tombs. 
On approaching the remains of John Sobieski, 
he is said to have hung with reverence over his 
tomb, and to have exclaimed — "What a pity 
that so great a man should ever die !" 

Sobieski was a famous general under a monk, 
by the name of Michael, who had been raised to 
the throne by the cunning of a party, even 
against his own will. It is not often that we 
find a man wise enough to refuse a throne, but 
Michael seems to have been a weak rather than 
a wise man. 

Under such a king, Sobieski of course pos- 
sessed all the power of the throne. His death 
soon gave him full enjoyment of it. This hap- 
pened when he had gone out to fight the Turks, 
and on the very eve of a great batde. 



STORIES OF POLAJYD. 25 

Sobieski saw the immense camp of the Turks, 
lying on the plains before them, gleaming with 
the crescents and banners, and shining with silk 
and gold. " My comrades,'' said he, " in half an 
hour we shall lodge under those gilded tents." 
The attack was commenced with great fury, 
and Sobieski kept his word. 

His friends now exerted themselves, on the 
death of the king, to have him chosen in his 
place. They succeeded, and Sobieski was 
elected King of Poland, on the nineteenth of 
May, 1674. 

Sobieski had first studied the art of war in 
France, where he was sent with his brother in 
early youth. "My children," said their father 
at parting, " apply yourselves in France only to 
the useful arts ; as to dancing, you can learn that 
among the Tartars." You see how much he 
profited by his father's advice. 

Before he was crowned, Sobieski continued 
3 



26 STORIES OF POLAND. 

the war against the Turks. His uncle and bro- 
ther had been slain by these enemies, and he 
wished to revenge their death. After various 
httle encounters, the Polish troops came to a 
final battle with the Turks and Tartars, near a 
town called Leopol, in Gahcia. 

It was in the month of August. Before the 
battle a very remarkable circumstance occurred. 
Notwithstanding the season of the year, there 
was a very heavy fall of snow, which fortunately 
was a great inconvenience to the enemy. The 
Poles exclaimed, ' a miracle ! ' They fought, 
with a firm belief that they should conquer, with 
great courage and fury. Ten thousand Turks 
are said to have been left dead upon the field 
of battle. 

The enemy fled in great haste, running in one 
night as far as they had marched in three days 
before. In the course of their retreat, they 
thought it w^ould be a good thing to stop and 
take possession of a fortified town. 



STORIES OF POLAND. 27 

The vizier, a chief officer of the Turks, ac- 
cordingly sent word to the governor of a litde 
town called Trenabowla, that to avoid further 
trouble he had better open his gates and let the 
Turks walk in quietly. 

The governor sent back a very brave answer: 
"Thou art mistaken if thou expectest to find 
gold within these walls. We have nothing here 
but steel and soldiers. Our number indeed is 
small, but our courage is great." 

The Turkish general then ordered his soldiers 
to fire all their cannon against the walls and beat 
them down. But it was all in vain. The gov- 
ernor was determined to hold out. 

This may have been partly owing to his wife, 
who was a very brave woman, and seems to 
have frightened her husband a great deal more 
than the enemy did. When the cannon were 
raging at the utmost, she seized two daggers, 
and said to her husband, " One of these is for 



28 STORIES OF POLAND. 

thee, if thou surrenderest this town ; the other 
I intend for myself/' 

The affectionate wife however was relieved 
from this necessity. Sobieski seemed always 
to know when the Turks wanted to be beaten, 
and appeared in sight just as the town would 
otherwise have been obliged to give up the day. 
He immediately fought the enemy, slew several 
thousand of them, and obliged the remainder to 
retreat. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Sobieski. — His wars with the Turks. — Troubles with his wife. — ^The Tar- 
tars besiege Vienna. 

The next year Sobieski was again obliged to go 
and fight the Turks and Tartars. The army of 
tiie enemy was five or six times larger than his 
awn, and amounted to about two hundred thou- 
sand men. 

The two armies met in a Kttle town, called 
Zurano. A river separated the two encamp- 
ments. Sobieski thought if peace could be made 
without bloodshed, it would be the wisest plan 
of settling their difficulties. So he sent one of 
his officers, to tell the cham that he thought they 
had better make peace. 

The cham of Tartary is a very great person, 
and received the officer with a good deal of 
pomp and parade. The Pole, however, was 



30 STORIES OF POLAND. 

brave, and felt that his king was full as great a 
man as the cham. 

" What brought me here/' said the officer to 
the cham, "is the love of peace, which you 
yourselves need. We do not bring prayers or 
promises. If words will not make peace, our 
swords shall.'' Saying these words, he drew 
his sword half out of its sheath. This startled 
the cham and provoked him very much ; so he 
sent the officer away. 

The Turks now attempted to pass the river, 
but were driven back with great slaughter. So 
the vizier, whose name was Ibrahim, thought he 
had better trouble the enemy from a distance, 
instead of coming too near. He began to dig 
trenches, and to open all his artillery upon the 
Polish camp. 

Sobieski was at this time seated at his table, 
thinking how and where he had better give the 
enemy battle, when a cannon ball passed di* 



STORIES OF POLAND. 31 

rectly through his tent. He fortunately escaped 
without injury. His officers instantly urged him 
to retire to a place of greater safety; but he was 
determined to show his soldiers that they were 
exposed to no more danger than their general. 

The vizier still remembered the terrible havoc 
that Sobieski had made among the Turkish 
forces, and began to think he had better make 
peace. He sent deputies to propose it to the 
Polish general. They found him iii his tent^ 
but did not make any offers that would satisfy 
him. 

There were only provisions for four days in 
the Pohsh camp, and it was necessary to fight 
or retreat, to avoid being starved. Sobieski de- 
termined to attack the enemy on the following 
morning. He knew that his troops were a mere 
handful, compared with the huge armies of the 
Turks and Tartars, but he was willing to try the 
odds of the battle. . 



32 STORIES OF POLAND. 

On the following day, however, Ibrahim was 
willing to make a much better bargain about 
peace than ever. There was trouble and quar- 
relling in his camp on all sides. The Tartars 
were tired of the war and threatened to go 
home. So he made very good offers and So- 
bieski accepted them. 

Though Sobieski managed so well with the 
Turks, he never learned the art of managing his 
wife. She was very troublesome, and ruled him 
as she pleased. She was always present at the 
debates of the government, in a private place, 
where she could hear every thing that was go- 
ing on, without being seen. 

One day she had a matter before the diet, or 
the chief assembly of PoHsh rulers, about the 
increase of her yearly allowance of money. The 
king wished to delay it till another time, for the 
assembly were not in very good humour, and 
he was afraid they might refuse it. The queen 



STORIES OF POLAND. 33 

then sent an express message, telling him that 
she could not be put off. 

The king was very angry, though he was 
obliged to obey. He was the more willing to do 
this, as he felt certain the queen's request would 
be refused. In this, however, he was mistaken. 
The queen managed the assembly as well as 
her husband, and prevailed upon them to give 
her as much money as she wanted. 

Sobieski had long washed to have another 
war with the Turks. This nation at length 
quarrelled with Leopold, the emperor of Germa- 
ny, and in this manner a convenient opportunity 
offered itself. 

Leopold wished very much to have Sobieski 
assist him. He knew the Turks had been beat- 
en so often by him, that his name was terrible 
to them. Leopold agreed to give up some fine 
salt mines, and a very large sum of money to 
pay the expenses of the war. Sobieski promis- 



34 STORIES OF POLAND. 

ed that he would have fifty thousand men, ready 
to assist Leopold, whenever he should be called 
upon. 

In the beginning of May, 1683, the Turkish 
army set out upon their march. They were in 
all three hundred thousand men; about two 
thirds of them were Hungarians and Tartars. 
Their general was Kara Mustapha, the grand 
vizier. 

Leopold behaved very shamefully. The vi- 
zier marched along very quietly to Vienna. Le- 
opold ran away before the Tartars from tow^n to 
town, without risking a hair of his head in de- 
fence of his subjects. To add to his troubles, 
the queen was with him ; and during the flight 
they were sometimes obUged to sleep in a wood 
on a bundle of straw. 

The vizier pitched his camp on a large plain 
on the south of the great city of Vienna. This 
plain was about nine miles long, and the camp 



STORIES OF POLAND. 35 

Was SO large that it nearly covered the whole 
of it. 

There were about eleven thousand soldiers 
in Vienna, commanded by Count Starembourg. 
Besides these, the citizens and students were 
armed. But the Turks were so numerous, and 
fought with so much vigour and fury, that the 
inhabitants began to despair. 

They sent red hot balls into the city, which 
set it on fire in many places, and destroyed 
a great many lives. Beside all this, there was 
a report that some traitors in the city were mak- 
ing an entrance, under ground, for the enemy. 
It was all confusion and fear. The Turks were 
quite sure of victory, and would have gained it, 
if it had not been for their old enemy, John So- 
bieski. 



CHAPTER V. 

Sobieski marches to Vienna. — Views the Turkish camp. — Disturbs the 
vizier at his cup of coffee. — The vizier and the cham. — Defeat. — Sobi- 
eski enters Vienna in triumph. 

Sobieski could only raise an army of about 
twenty-four thousand men, but he thought a 
good deal might be done even with so small a 
number. He immediately set out for Vienna. 
The queen went with him to the borders of Po- 
land, and there left him. 

Though she used to govern him, we can see 
how much he loved her, from a letter he wrote 
the day after their parting. It began " Only joy 
of my soul, charming and beloved Mariette !" 

Sobieski was now fifty-four years of age, and 
so weak as to be obhged to be hfted on his horse. 
Yet he was the only man in the nation who 
could beat the Turks. While on the march 
with his little army, he saw an eagle flying by 



STORIES OF POLAND. 37 

them on the right. He pointed it out to his sol- 
diers, as a sign of victory. 

Vienna was now in a very wretched condi- 
tion. The soldiers were killed, or died of sick- 
ness, in great numbers every day. The gov- 
ernor had said that he would not surrender the 
place but with the last drop of his blood, but he 
began to despair of holding out any longer. A 
letter, which he wrote at this time to his friends 
who had promised to assist him, contained only 
these words : " No more time to lose, no more 
time to lose." 

Sobieski at length reached the last mountain 
which separated him from the Turks. He stood 
on the top of it, and looked down upon the im- 
mense plain where they were encamped. 

There were thousands of splendid tents, with 
banners and crescents, so beautiful as to seem 
pitched rather for some festival than for war. 
The Tartars were scattered about in swarms at 



38 STORIES OF POLAJVB. 

tlie foot of the mountain, moving in great confu- 
sion. The Turks, with their turbans and scim- 
etars, appeared almost countless. Beside all 
these, there were great numbers of horses, 
camels and buffaloes in every direction. 

Sobieski looked upon this scene for a few 
moments in silence. At length his eye sparkled 
with joy, and he exclaimed : " This man is badly 
encamped ; he knows nothing of war ; we shall 
certainly beat him." 

The length of the war, sickness, and a fear of 
ill forture, had produced great trouble in the 
Turkish army. The bravest of the troops began 
to murmur against their general's cowardice. 
" Come on, infidels," they exclaimed, " the sight 
of a hat will put us to flight." 

Sunday, the twelfth of September, 1683, was 
the great day to decide what was to become of 
Vienna. There were small parties fighting on 
both sides from an early hour in the day. Kara 



STORIES OF POLAND. 39 

Mustapha took his place in the centre of the 
Turkish army, and Sobieski in that of Poland and 
Germany. 

It was now about five in the evening, and the 
battle had only been begun. The vizier was 
quietly seated in a splendid crimson tent, sip- 
ping coffee. I hardly think he would have sip- 
ped his coffee quite so much at his ease, if he 
had known how near Sobieski was to him. 

There was a high hill just overlooking the vi- 
zier's tent, which Sobieski ordered his soldiers 
to seize. They immediately obeyed his com- 
mand, and, with very httle ceremony, disturbed 
Kara Mustapha at his cup of coffee. 

Sobieski, at the head of his troops, instantly 
plunged forward to reach the vizier's tent. The 
enemy knew him at once by the streamers 
which his guard wore upon their lances. " By 
allah!" exclaimed the cham of the Tartars, ^Uhe 
king is with them !'' 



40 STORIES OF POLAND. 

An eclipse of the moon happened just at this 
time to add to the terror of the Turks. They 
fled in all directions. The vizier in vain tried 
to encourage them. 

He had almost given up the attempt, when 
the cham of the Tartars fled by him among the 
crowd of runaways. " And you," said the vizier 
to him, "cannot you help me?" "I know the 
king of Poland !" said the cham. " I told you 
that if we had to deal with him all we could do 
would be to run away." 

By six o'clock, Sobieski took possession of 
their magnificent tents. A very beautiful stir- 
rup belonging to the vizier was brought to him. 
" Take this stirrup," said he, " to the queen, and 
tell her that the person to whom it belonged is 
defeated." They all slept that night in the 
Turkish camp. 

On the following day Sobieski made his en- 
trance into Vienna. The Turks had battered 



STORIES OF POLAND. 41 

down part of the wall, through which they ex- 
pected to enter the town. But instead of enter- 
ing Vienna, they were now scattered all over 
the country. 

This passage was now used for the entrance 
of the victorious army. The inhabitants gather- 
ed in crowds to gaze upon their great deliverer, 
and heap blessings upon his head. They wept 
and shouted for joy. 

" Never,'' said Sobieski, " did the crown yield 
me pleasure like this !" 



CHAPTER VI. 

About the salt mines. — Different kinds of salt. — Chapels of salt. — Palace 
of Casimir the Great. 

In the cathedral at Cracow, there are the tombs 
of a great many other famous warriors. But I 
am afraid you are tired of hearing about bat- 
tles, and so I will tell you about something else. 
I rather think you would like to hear about the 
salt mines. 

These are in a htde town with a hard name. 
A great many of the Polish towns, as well as 
many of the Polish people, have names that 
sound very hard to Americans. The village, 
where the salt mines are, is called Wielitska. 

I visited the mines with two companions. We 
fastened three hammocks to the rope which they 
use to draw up the salt, and were let down gen- 
tly into the earth about one hundred and sixty 
yards. 



STORIES OF POLAND. 43 

We then left our hammocks and passed 
through a long descending passage, sometimes 
through broad galleries, wide enough for several 
carriages to go abreast. We sometimes went 
down steps cut in the solid rock, which were 
splendid enough to be the stair-case of a palace. 

Each of us carried a light, and several guides 
went before us with lamps, to show the way. 
The glitter of all these from the sides of the 
mine was very beautiful. 

The salt is called green salt, though it is of 
an iron grey colour. Being almost as hard as 
stone, the miners cut it with hatchets and pick- 
axes into very large blocks. Some of these 
weigh six or seven hundred pounds. 

The large masses are raised by a windlass, 
such as you sometimes see in our stores, only 
larger and stronger. The smaller pieces are 
carried by horses, through a winding gallery 
which leads to the surface of the earth. 



44 STORIES OF POLAND. 

Besides the grey salt, the miners sometimes 
find litde pieces perfectly white, and transparent 
as crystal. They sometimes find pieces of coal 
buried in the salt. 

One of our guides pointed out to us, what my 
httle readers will certainly call a great curiosity. 
If they do not, they will differ very much from 
me. 

From this soUd salt, several beautiful chapels 
have been cut, in which religious services are 
performed on certain days. One of these chap- 
els is thirty feet long and twenty-five feet broad. 
The altar, the cross, the church ornaments, and 
the statues of the saints, are all carved out of 
salt. 

Many of the chambers cut in salt are very 
large. The roofs of these chambers are flat, 
and supported sometimes on pillars of wood, 
sometimes of salt. 

The large galleries, with the chapels and a 



STORIES OF POLAND. 45 

few sheds for horses, have probably led travel- 
lers to suppose and tell that these mines con- 
tained several villages, inhabited by families of 
miners who never see the light. 

There is room enough for them to Uve in this 
manner, but the miners have no dwelling-houses 
under ground, as they do not remain below more 
than eight hours at a time. We found these 
mines without damp or moisture, and noticed, in 
our whole passage, only one small spring of wa- 
ter. You may well suppose that this spring 
was rather salt. These mines have been worked 
above six hundred years. 

In returning from the mines to Cracow, we 
stopped to examine an old building in the neigh- 
bourhood of the town. It is called the palace 
of Casimir the Great. On a side wall in an 
inner court of this palace, I observed the white 
eagle of Poland carved in stone, and around it 
an inscription from which I could only make out 
the date— 1367. 



46 STORIES OF POLAIVD. 

Several marble columns were scattered about, 
which shew that the building had once been 
very magnificent. Part of it was evidently very 
old, while a part had certainly been added quite 
lately. 

This palace was the principal residence of 
Casimir. In the garden, is the tomb of a lady, 
who was a favourite of this king, and known by 
the name of Esther the fair Jewess. 

It was said to have been owing to her, that 
the Jews received so many favours in Poland, 
which is called the Paradise of the Jews. It 
may have been partly owing to this lady, but it 
was also partly owing to their being at that time 
very rich. 

Kings always want to borrow money, and are 
willing to show great favours to those who will 
furnish it to them. 



CHAPTER VII. 

A splendid entertainment. — Villa near Warsaw. — Gardens. — A Turkish 
tent. — An illuminated bridge. — A pavilion. — Music and dancing. 

I AM a very quiet person, and never dined with 
a king or any of a king's relations. But as my 
little friends may like to know something about 
the manner in which the Pohsh nobility used to 
amuse their friends, I have borrowed a httle 
story from an Englishman who travelled in Po- 
land a great many years ago. 

He was invited by the princess Zartoriska to a 
little party at a villa, or country seat, about three 
miles from Warsaw. It was a very pretty place 
in the midst of a forest. The grounds about 
were quite level, with open plains of grass, and 
litde groves, all watered with clear streams of 
crystal waters. 



48 STORIES OF POLAND. 

The house was built upon a low hill, and was 
very much like the common cottages of the 
peasants. It was of trunks of trees piled upon 
each other, and thatched with straw. Besides 
the principal building, there were separate cot- 
tages for the children and attendants. 

Other buildings, such as summer houses, pa- 
vilions, rustic sheds and ruins, were scattered 
throughout the grounds. The stables were in 
the shape of a half circle. Several bridges were 
built over the little streams, rudely formed of the 
trunks and bent branches of trees. 

On his arrival, the traveller, Mr. Coxe, went 
to the principal cottage, where the princess was 
ready to receive him. He was surprised to find 
the furniture of this cottage very beautiful and 
costly. 

The bathing room was fitted up with great 
elegance. The sides were covered with square 
pieces of Dresden porcelain, which is very ex- 



STORIES OF POLAND. 49 

pensive ; and the border and ceiling were beau- 
tifully painted. 

Having been through all the rooms in the cot- 
tage, the company vy^ent into a Httle garden near 
the house, that was surrounded with blocks of 
granite and fallen trees. Here they drank tea, 
and afterwards walked round among the cot- 
tages of the children. 

After walking round the grounds, the com- 
pany visited a Turkish tent of very rich and 
curious workmanship, that had been pitched in 
a field at a short distance from the cottage. 
This tent had been taken from the Turks in 
battle. 

Within the tent there was a settee, and a 
carpet upon the ground. Here they remained 
conversing till about dusk, when the princess 
proposed returning. 

She led them through the house to a small 
hill, where they were suddenly surprised with a 



50 STORIES OF POLAND. 

beautiful illumination. A little bridge, of a sin- 
gle arch, thrown over a broad sheet of water, 
w^as shining with several thousand lamps of dif- 
ferent colours. It looked Hke a brilliant circle 
hung in the air. 

While stopping to admire this beautiful scene, 
a band of music struck up at a httle distance, 
and amused them with an excellent concert. 

They were led from this spot across the illu- 
minated bridge, to a thatched paviUon, open at 
the sides, and supported by pillars hung round 
with garlands of flowers. Here they found a 
very pleasant table, covered w^ith all sorts of 
delicate fruits and rich wines. 

The evening was very pleasant, the air was 
mild, and the moon had now just risen to add 
to the beauties of the scene. The company 
were in excellent spirits, for with such delightful 
music, and such pleasant entertainment, it was 
impossible for any one to be sad. 



STORIES OF POLAND. 61 

This they supposed was the closing scene. 
But even here they were still once more to be 
agreeably surprised. They rose from the table 
to walk out. The gardens were instantly illu- 
minated. 

They now strayed about in all directions, as 
they pleased. Instruments were placed about 
in different spots, on which the wind, as it whis- 
tled through them, made beautiful music. In 
this manner two or three hours were spent very 
pleasantly. 

They now again passed over the bridge and 
returned into the cottage. Here the two eldest 
daughters of the princess, dressed in Grecian 
robes, went very gracefully through a Polish and 
Cossac dance. The first was quite serious, and 
the last was lively. 

The eldest son, a boy about eight years of 
age, then performed a hornpipe, and afterwards 
a dance, in the style of the Polish peasants. It 



52 STORIES OF POLAND. 

was now past two in the morning — a time when 
all honest people ought to be snug in their beds. 

The company, however, were very sorry to 
separate, even at this late hour. Though most 
of them had never met before, they had been 
so much pleased as to have become quite as 
good friends as if they had known each other a 
great while. 

Mr. Coxe thought he had never passed so 
deUghtful an evening in all his life. I think it 
must have been very pleasant, and I beheve all 
my litde readers think so too. However, I 
hope they will never sit up till two o'clock in 
the morning, even if they should go to a foreign 
country, and visit a princess. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Story of Stanislas Leczinki. 

I AM now going to tell you about the fortune 
and adventures of Stanislas Leczinki. This 
man was chosen king after the death of the 
famous Sobieski. It was almost entirely through 
the influence of the celebrated king of Sweden, 
Charles the Twelfth. 

He was no sooner seated on his throne at 
Warsaw, than there was a general alarm through- 
out the country. There was another man, by 
the name of Augustus, who thought he had a 
better right to be king than Stanislas. 

This man was elector, or chief oflScer, of a 
country called Saxony, and he immediately set 
out for Warsaw with an army of twenty thou- 
sand men. This city was at that time without 



54 STORIES OF POLAND. 

any soldiers or fortifications, Stanislas was 
therefore obliged to flee. 

He went at once to his friend Charles. Au- 
gustus was a good soldier, but this king was a 
better one. He drove him back into Saxony, 
and made him give up all his pretensions to be 
king of Poland. 

After this was settled, Augustus and Charles 
had a private meeting. The Swedish king was 
in his military uniform, a coarse blue coat with 
gilt buttons, and jack boots. 

These two great characters seem to have had 
very httle to say for themselves. Charles was 
usually very silent, and all he had to tell Au- 
gustus was about his jack boots. He assured 
him that these had never been off his legs for 
six years, except when he lay down. 

This was the most important subject of con- 
versation. After paying the usual compliments, 
the two kings parted, and were very glad to get 
rid of each other. 



STORIES OF POLAND. 56 

Charles was afterwards beaten in a great bat- 
tle with the Russians, and obliged to fly to Tur- 
key for safety. Augustus immediately returned 
to Poland, and again took the crown. 

Stanislas was willing to give it up peaceably, 
but the consent of Charles was necessary to 
satisfy the newly raised king. The Swede, 
however, still proud in his misfortunes, only 
said, " If my friend will not be king I can soon 
make another.'' 

Stanislas wished to prevail on him to consent, 
so he undertook to travel in disguise through 
the midst of his enemies to Charles' retreat in 
Turkey. After meeting with a great many 
dangers and lucky escapes, he reached in safety 
a town called Jassy, the capital of Moldavia. 

It happened that Charles had got into some 

flftculty with the king of the Turks, who is 
called the sultan, which Stanislas did not know 
any thing about. So when he found himself 



56 STORIES OF POLAND. 

among the Turks, he pretended that he was an 
officer in Charles' service. 

The Turk was acquainted with the looks of 
Stanislas, and at once saw through his disguise. 
He immediately took him prisoner and carried 
him to the sultan. 

When Charles heard that he was taken, he 
exclaimed— " Tell him never to make peace 
with Augustus ; assure him fortune will soon 
change !" 

But years passed by, and Charles and Au- 
gustus died, and Stanislas was again called to 
the throne of Poland. He went back quite un- 
willingly. Russia and Austria were very desir- 
ous to take him prisoner before he could reach 
Warsaw, and thus prevent his being chosen and 
crowned. 

He had been living during the reign of Au- 
gustus in France. In returning to Warsaw, he 



STORIES OF POLAND. 57 

went through Germany in company with only 
one friend, in the disguise of a merchant. He 
passed all the guards in safety, and reached the 
city just as they were on the point of choosing 
the king. 

His return was immediately proclaimed, and 
he received all the votes of sixty thousand no- 
bles. But Russia had no idea of being disap- 
pointed in this manner, and sent an army of sixty 
thousand men to ravage and lay waste the fields 
of Poland. 

Stanislas was again stripped of his honours, 
and obliged to fly with his nobles to Dantzic. 
His fortune appears to have been a very strange 
one. He seems to have found it as hard to 
keep his throne in the present case, as to get 
rid of it in former times. 

The city was defended with obstinate courage 
for more than five months* The enemy attacked 
it a great many times very furiously, but in 

5 



58 STORIES OF POLAND. 

vain. They tried to beat down the walls with 
their cannon, but could not succeed. 

In one attack more than eight thousand Rus- 
sians were slain. A part of their intrenchments 
is still called the " Russian burial ground." At 
length the governor of one of the forts turned 
traitor. He gave up his post to the enemy. 

The town was no longer a safe place for the 
king, and he accordingly determined to leave it. 
His flight was full of dangerous adventures, and 
as I know you would like to hear all about it, 
you will find the story in the next chapter. 



CHAPTER IX. 

Escape of the King from Dantzic, and his numerous adventures with the 
Cossacks. 

I AM now going to tell you the story of the 
king's escape. You will see from this that 
kings fare no better at all times than common 
people, and often a good deal worse. 

The king, having made up his mind to leave 
the city, bought a peasant's dress, and set out 
on his flight about ten o'clock in the evening of 
the twenty-seventh of June, 1734. This hap- 
pened you see about an hundred years ago. 

He was accompanied by one of his generals 
and a party of peasants. After passing the 
ditch beyond the w^alls of the city, they pro- 
ceeded in a boat on their journey. The river 
Vistula had at that time overflowed its banks, 
and the whole country about was covered with 
water. 



60 STORIES OF POLAND. • 

Day dawned, however, before they had sailed 
a single mile from the walls of the city, and they 
w^ere obliged to hide themselves in a mean hut, 
w^ithin a short distance of the enemy. They 
passed the day there, fortunately, without being 
discovered, and at night again pursued their 
voyage. 

At midnight the general and two companions 
left the others to sail over the marsh, while they 
endeavoured to find a better way by land. 
Stanislas saw the general no more. He was 
now left with only two guides, and they were ill 
looking fellows that he could not safely trust out 
of his sight with a six-pence. 

At day -break they again looked round to find 
a hiding-place till night. They found a hut be- 
longing to an acquaintance of the two peasants, 
and here the king was put into a Utde chamber, 
and left to very pleasant thoughts upon a bundle 
of straw. 



STORIES OF POLAND, 61 

The two guides then went out to look for 
the general and his companions. The king felt 
quite disagreeably. The Russians might drop 
in upon him very unceremoniously, or his gal- 
lows-looking companions might betray him to 
them. 

The king rose from his straw and went to 
the window. Here he saw a Russian officer 
and two soldiers walking very solemnly up and 
down the meadow, amusing themselves by the 
sight of the horses grazing. 

The appearance of these armed soldiers, with 
horses so far from the camp, made the king 
think that he had really fallen into a trap. His 
alarm was still increased by seeing several Cos- 
sacks galloping along the fields towards his hut. 
The Cossacks are a very brave race, and ride 
very good horses. 

The Cossacks immediately entered the house, 
but they only came for something to eat and 



62 STORIES OF POLAND. 

drink, and in about a couple of hours went 
away. 

Towards night the king began to feel rather 
uncomfortably in his loft, and went down stairs 
to talk with his guide. After dark they set out 
again on their journey, and at length reached 
the brink of the river Vistula. Here they could 
not procure a boat, and were obhged to keep 
on through the marshes which they had just 
left. 

After walking another league, they arrived at 
a house in which Stanislas met a man who im- 
mediately knew him. " What do I see ?" said 
this fellow to the peasants. " One of our com- 
rades, to be sure," said they. " I am not to be 
deceived," he replied ; " it is king Stanislas." 

The king immediately stepped forward, and 
said in a firm tone — " I am he ; but I know from 
your countenance that you will not refuse us 



STORIES OF POLAND. 63 

the assistance we need in our present situation." 
The man was so much pleased and flattered by 
this frankness, that he promised to provide a 
boat for passing the Vistula, and kept his word. 

In the mean time the king was rejoined by 
the peasant from whom he had parted on the 
night following his escape. He told him that 
the Cossacks were riding about in every quar- 
ter in search of them. 

His friendly host then returned with news 
that he had obtained a boat. As there were 
two Russians, however, in the boatman's house, 
he advised that the passage should be delayed. 
The king accordingly determined to stay in the 
house of this honest peasant during that night 
and the next day. 

On the next night, they set out to cross the 
river. The host went first, then Stanislas and 
his guides followed. At a distance on both 
sides, the fires of the enemy's camp were blaz- 



64 STORIES OF POLAND. 

ing to light the king on his way. This fright- 
ened the peasants very much. 

Their fear was increased, when their host 
rode back to say that he saw troops of Cossacks 
before them, and that he had come very near 
being taken prisoner. 

The peasants began to talk together, without 
the king's knowledge, about returning. They 
finally told the king that they had made up their 
mind to go back. It was in vain that Stanislas 
and his friendly host attempted to prevent them. 

At length the king told them that if they were 
so base as to desert him, he would at once call 
the Cossacks to seize the whole of them. So 
they were forced to go with him, keeping far 
enough behind to run at the first notice. 

At length they reached the river, got into 
their boat, and crossed to the other side. Just 
as they were about to land, the king thanked 
his host very kindly, and gave him a handful of 



STORIES OF POLAND. 65 

ducats. Now a ducat was a great deal of money 
for such a poor man, and I suppose he never 
even dreamed of seeing a handful of them. 

But the honest peasant refused, and drew 
back ashamed. The king insisted upon his 
taking them, but he still refused. At last the 
fine fellow consented to take two of them, which 
he said he should keep as a remembrance of 
the pleasure he had received from knowing his 
king. 

But Stanislas had not yet escaped from his 
dangers ; and you will find all about them in 
the next chapter. 



CHAPTER X. 

Conclusion of the King's story. 

At a short distance from the other bank of the 
Vistula, the party entered a small village, which 
they were not much pleased to hear was often 
visited by the Russians. The peasants, how- 
ever, thought there was nothing to fear, and 
threw themselves on a bed in the first cottage 
they came to, and went asleep. 

While these poor fellows were sleeping, the 
king kept watch. He at length woke up one 
of them, and sent him to buy some sort of a 
carriage. 

In about two hours the peasant returned so 
drunk that he could hardly stand. A man came 
with him who had a carriage to sell, and they 
soon struck a bargain. I venture to say that 
the king did not stop long to beat him down in 
the price. 



STORIES OF POLAND. 67 

As soon as the sot saw the ducats, which the 
king took out to pay for the carriage, he began 
to be very noisy. He talked about his fidelity 
and great services, the risks he had run, and 
insisted upon knowing on the spot what he was 
to have for his pay. 

A large crowd of the villagers was soon col- 
lected by his noisy conduct, to see and hear 
what was going on. They stared and listened 
for some time in stupid wonder, not knowing 
what to make of it. 

They were all astonished that such a poor 
peasant as Stanislas appeared to be, should have 
twenty-five ducats to pay for a carriage. They 
wondered still more to find him attended by so 
many servants. 

There is no telling what might have happened, 
had not the leader of the peasants said to the 
crowd — " Take no notice of this poor drunken 
fellow. When he is in liquor, he always speaks 



68 STORIES OF POLAND. 

as if he was in the company of kings and prin- 
ces. If you listen to him he will make us all 
some great characters." 

The fellow was then laughed at and hooted 
by the villagers, though some of the shrewdest 
of them shook their heads and thought there 
was something out of the way. But the party 
got into their vehicle, and laying the drunkard 
down in the bottom of it, drove on as fast as 
possible. 

They passed through several villages occupied 
by the Russian and Saxon soldiers, but luckily 
without being observed. They at length reach- 
ed the banks of the Nogat in safety. I hardly 
think you will find this river upon your maps, 
though it was wide enough to puzzle Stanislas 
and the peasants very much to cross it. 

There was no boat in sight, and none of the 
peasants were willing to run the risk of being 
discovered by inquiring for one. The king was 



STORIES OF POLAND. 69 

angry at their cowardice, and determined to go 
and ask for one himself. 

At the same time he proceeded to alight from 
the carriage for that purpose. The peasants, 
however, tried to prevent him, saying that his 
speech would betray him. He laughed at them 
and jumped upon the ground. 

His conductors then threw themselves before 
him, and said they would rather die than suffer 
him to advance a step further. The king in- 
sisted, and they were obliged to yield. " Well," 
said they, " since it is your wish to hang us, we 
leave you." " With all my heart," said the king, 
" I wish you a pleasant journey." 

The king then entered a cottage, and, in a 
tone suited to his dress, told the good woman 
whom he found there, that he was going to 
cross the river to buy cattle, and would thank 
her to tell him where he could find the best 
passage. 



70 STORIES OF POLAND, 

"O/' she replied, "you have come just in 
good time. You will find it very hard to get 
over the river, and I have got some fine cattle 
to sell you." 

The king told her that he could not buy till 
he had gone over the river to get some money. 
"But there is no boat," said the good v^oman, 
" so v^hat will you do ?" " Just as you advise 
me," replied the king ; " I prefer receiving a 
favour from you than from any one else." 

" I see you are a good fellow," said the wo- 
man, "and I will send my son with you. He 
will take you about a mile from here. A fisher- 
man, who is a great friend of his, lives on the 
opposite bank, and at a certain signal will cross 
over and carry you to the other side. You 
could not have a safer or easier way of crossing." 

The king thanked the woman and left the 
house with her son. The signal was given, the 
fisherman appeared with the boat, and Stanislas 



STORIES OF POLAND. 71 

was soon landed in the Prussian dominions, free 
from danger. 

He here found that orders had been given by 
the king to give him every assistance, and re- 
ceive him with honour and respect. He passed 
through the different villages in honour. 

When he arrived an Konigsburg, he was en- 
tertained splendidly in the king's palace. From 
hence he went to France. 

The French king was his son-in-law, and 
gave Stanislas a retreat, and took up arms 
against his enemies. 

Stanislas afterwards gave up all pretensions to 
the throne of Poland. He passed the remain- 
der of his life in retirement, devoting himself to 
the study of philosophy and literature. 

This part of his life was the pleasantest and 
happiest of the whole. The only thing that 
took place to trouble him was the death of his 
little grandson, a very bright and noble child. 



72 STORIES OF POLAND. 

who had been a great consolation and pride to 
him. 

Stanislas died in 1766. His death was occa- 
sioned by fire accidentally catching his dressing 
gown, when there was no page near to assist 
him. He was very much beloved and lamented. 



CHAPTER XI. 

About the Patriots. 

After Stanislas left the throne of Poland, a son 
of the old king Augustus took possession of it. 
He was more fond of hunting and his pleasures, 
than of looking after the affairs of government. 
Being of a mild disposition, however, the Poles 
did not suffer much during his reign, though 
they did not care much when he died. 

During the latter part of his life, the famous 
Russian queen Catharine undertook to drive 
him from the throne, and make a king of a 
favourite of her own, named Poniatowski. 

The Poles were very angry to think that such 
a miserable fellow should wear the crown of Po- 
land. They wished to give it to an old and tried 
patriot named Branicki. But he was now grow- 
ing old, and did not possess sufficient vigour. 

6 



74 STORIES OF POLAND. 

Catharine kept 60,000 soldiers on the borders 
of Poland, ready to march at a moment's notice. 
She also sent prince Repnin to Warsaw, to see 
Poniatowski and carry him some money. This 
man said that " his sovereign should give Poland 
whatever king she thought fit, the meanest gen- 
tleman, Polish or foreign, and that no power on 
earth could hinder her." 

Ten thousand Russian soldiers were now on 
the march to Warsaw. The patriots collected 
forces in that city amounting to about three 
thousand men. They were under the command 
of Branicki and Radziwill. 

The time for the meeting of the assembly to 
choose a king had now arrived. The senate 
house was crowded with Russian soldiers. This 
assembly was called the diet. Only eight sen- 
ators out of fifty were present, and the marshal, 
whose duty it was to open the meeting, did not 
make his appearance. 



STORIES OF POLAND. 75 

At length he came in, attended by an old pat- 
riot named Mokranowski. This brave man im- 
mediately exclaimed in a loud voice: "Since 
the Russian troops hem us in, I suspend the 
authority of the diet." 

The soldiers who were present instantly drew 
their swords and rushed at the speaker with 
great fury. This assault was prevented, and 
the old marshal then said : " Gentlemen, since 
liberty no longer exists among us, I carry away 
this staff, and I will never raise it till the public 
is delivered from her troubles." 

Mokranowski supported the old man, and 
again drew on himself the vengeance of the vile 
soldiers. " Strike," shouted he, crossing his 
arms, " strike ; I shall die free, and in the cause 
of liberty." 

They then turned to the marshal, and ordered 
him to resign his staff of office. "You may 
cut off my hand," he said, " or take my life ; but 



76 STORIES or POLAND. 

I am marshal, chosen by a free people, and my 
office can be taken from me only by a free peo- 
ple. I shall retire." 

They surrounded him and tried to prevent 
his departure. Perceiving their violence, Mok- 
ranowski cried out, "Gentlemen, respect this 
old man ; let him go out ! If you must have a 
victim, here am I : — respect age and virtue !" 
Both of these aged patriots then left the assem- 
bly. 

The diet was prolonged, and Poniatowski 
chosen king, while the senate house w^as sur- 
rounded and crowded by soldiers. Finding 
that force was to govern ajSfairs at Warsaw, the 
generals Branicki and Radziwill left the city to 
make an union of the patriots in other parts of 
Poland and in Lithuania. 

On the road, Radziwill with his troops met a 
body of Russian soldiers, and gave them battle. 
His wife and sister, both very young, accompa- 



STORIES OF POLAK^D. 77 

nied him. The cause in which they were en- 
gaged gave them a courage to go with the 
soldiers to the field of war. Here these dehcate 
and beautiful women were to be seen on horse- 
back, with sabres in their hands, encouraging the 
soldiers to revenge their country. 

Several hundred of the Russian army were 
left dead upon the field. The patriots, how- 
ever, were at length beaten, and Radziwill was 
obliged to seek refuge in Turkey. 

Among the other patriots was Joseph Pulaski. 
Repnin, the Russian prince, at first despised 
him, but afterwards became very suspicious of 
him. One day this foreign tyrant threatened to 
strike him, because he put his cap on in his 
presence. 

This insult added to Pulaski's abhorrence of 
the Russians. He became impatient to revenge 
himself upon the enemies of his country, and 
left Warsaw to go through the country and ex- 
cite the Poles to rise against their oppressors. 



78 STORIES OF POLAND. 

Pulaski was accompanied by three sons and 
his nephew. These were all very young, but 
the patriot devoted them from this early age 
to their country. 

In a very short time they had been able to 
raise eight thousand men. Repnin was very 
much enraged at the rising of the patriots, and 
threatened to massacre all of them without de- 
lay. A number of battles took place, in which 
the patriots always obtained the victory. 

New parties of the patriots were now formed 
all over the country. Catharine declared them 
rebels, and whole regiments of Russians and 
Cossacks marched against them ; robbing, lay- 
ing waste, and murdering on the way. 

But the Russians were so powerful and nu- 
merous, compared with the little armies of the 
patriots, that they at last conquered them. I am 
now going to tell you of a very bold attempt 
that was made to carry off the king from the 
midst of Warsaw. 



CHAPTER XII. 

Daring attempt to seize the King. 

The patriots were desirous to seize the king, 
and carry him prisoner to their camp. A plan 
was accordingly formed and proposed to Pulaski. 
He did not entirely approve the plot, but did 
not see fit to oppose it. 

"I give you no orders," said Pulaski, "but 
I forewarn you that I shall approve the plan, 
only as you respect the life of the prisoner whom 
you are going to seize." " Twenty times," re- 
plied Strawinski, "I could have killed him in 
Warsaw. I did not, because it would have in- 
jured the patriots. Why should you suspect 
me now ? I have resolved to deliver Poniatow- 
ski to them alive.'" 

The day fixed for this plot was the third of 
November, 1771. The whole number of men 



80 STORIES OF POLAND. 

concerned was about forty, under the command 
of Pulaski, and three other Polish chiefs of dis- 
tinction. 

On the second of the month they entered 
Warsaw, disguised as peasants. They brought 
in wagons full of hay, as if with the intention of 
selling it. Under this they concealed their sad- 
dles, arms, and clothes. 

The king had been dining, on the third of the 
month, at the mansion of his uncle, and was 
returning between nine and ten to the palace. 
His attendants were two pages, tw^o valets, and 
a few guards. Two gentlemen were also rid- 
ing with him in his carriage. 

Strawinski had divided his friends into two 
bands. One of them remained without the 
walls of the city, and the second attacked the 
carriage. 

About two hundred paces from the mansion 
where the king had been dining, the patriots 



STORIES OF POLAND. 81 

ordered the coachman to stop. Two of the 
guards resisted and were immediately killed. 
The rest of the attendants instantly fled. 

The king now opened the door of the car- 
riage to escape. As the night was extremely 
dark, he had some hope of stealing away with- 
out being taken. After a short struggle, with- 
out receiving any injury, Poniatowski was forced 
upon a horse, and the whole party rode off* for 
the appointed place of meeting without the city. 

The attendants immediately spread the alarm 
at the palace, where all was confusion and dis- 
order. They ran to the spot where the king 
was seized, and found nothing there but his hat. 
In the general alarm, no steps were taken to 
pursue the fugitives. 

When the troop came to the ditch that sur- 
rounds Warsaw, they were obliged to leap it. 
In the attempt the king's horse broke its leg. 

In the delay which this occasioned, part of 



82 STORIES OF POLAND. 

the men were separated from the rest. At- 
tempting to find each other, they lost their way 
in the dark, got into a marsh, and Poniatowski 
was soon left with only one man. 

The name of this man was Kosinski. From 
being one of the boldest of the whole troop, he 
suddenly became one of the most cowardly and 
the basest. The king promised to pardon and 
reward him, if he would only assist him to re- 
turn in safety to Warsaw. 

Kosinski consented, threw himself at the 
king's feet, begged his forgiveness, and swore 
to protect him against every enemy. They 
then directed their course to a neighbouring 
mill, to obtain shelter. Kosinski knocked, but 
no answer being given, he broke a pane of glass 
in the window, and requested lodging for a 
nobleman plundered by robbers. 

The miller supposed them to be thieves, and 
for more than half an hour refused to admit 



STORIES or POLAND. 83 

them. At length the king himself approached, 
and said through th6 broken pane — "If we were 
robbers, as you suppose, we should break the 
door down at once, without stopping to talk 
about it." 

The miller thought there was some sense in 
this remark, and opened the door to them. He 
was still, however, more than half afraid, and 
stood trembling in his shoes till he really found 
out that he had no cause to suspect any mis- 
chief. 

The king immediately tore a leaf from his 
pocket-book, and wrote a note to the colonel of 
his foot-guards, telling him where he was, and 
commanding his presence there. One of the 
miller's servants was prevailed upon to carry 
this note to Warsaw, 

When the messenger arrived with the note, 
the colonel instantly rode to the mill, followed 
by a band of the guards. Being admitted by 



84 STORIES OF POLAND. 

Kosinski, who kept watch at the door with his 
drawn sabre, he found the *king asleep on the 
ground, covered by the miller's cloak. 

The king returned to his palace early in the 
morning. The conspirators were pursued by 
the Cossacks, and one of them killed. Kosin- 
ski, for being both a coward and a traitor, was 
rewarded as the preserver of the king's life. 

Pulaski afterwards went to America, and dur- 
ing the revolutionary war was appointed briga- 
dier-general by Congress. At the attack upon 
Savannah, by general Lincoln, Pulaski was rid- 
ing in full gallop with two hundred horsemen 
against the enemy, when he received a death 
wound. 

He was a very brave and useful officer, and 
much lamented. In the next chapter, I will tell 
you about the gallant Kosciusko, who was also 
an officer in the American army during the 
revolution. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Story of Kosciusko. 

During the reign of Poniatowski, the three 
great neighbours of Poland agreed to divide 
this nation into three parts, and each take one 
of them. These neighbours were Russia, Prus- 
sia, and Austria. There was no help for it. 
They marched large armies into the devoted 
country, and the Poles were forced to submis- 
sion. 

Those men who were too proud to remain 
and see their country's oppression, were driven 
to wander as outcasts and exiles in foreign lands. 
They were waiting for a favourable time to draw 
the sword once more against their tyrants. 

Their fellow-patriots in Poland were mean- 
while suffering still more severely, and watching 
with impatience for the moment to rise in arms. 



86 STORIES OF POLAND. 

They formed a plan for this purpose, appointed 
Cracow as the place of meeting, and chose Kos- 
ciusko as their leader. 

The Russian tyrants were very suspicious, 
and committed a great many cruelties every 
day. At length a large number of Polish pat- 
riots had collected together at Cracow, under 
the command of their great leader. 

This was Thaddeus Kosciusko. He was a 
very brave and noble man, and at a very early 
age had learned what a soldier ought to know, 
at the military school of Warsaw. 

While a young man, he came over to Ameri- 
ca, to assist our fathers in the revolutionary war. 
He was the friend of liberty, and our cause was 
dear to his heart. Washington loved him very 
sincerely, and made him his aid-de-camp. 

When our war had ended gloriously, he re- 
turned to his native country. Here he was 
found among the bravest and wisest patriots. 



STORIES OF POLAND. 87 

His countrymen placed the highest confidence 
in him, and when they had resolved to rise 
against their tyrants, made him their general. 

On the first of April, 1794, he left Cracow at 
the head of four thousand men. About half of 
these were armed with scythes, such as the 
farmers mowed their grass with. This was be- 
cause the Russians had taken away all their 
guns and swords, or because they were too 
poor to buy them. 

They marched towards Warsaw, to meet an 
army of the Russians. This army was about 
three times as large as their own, with a plenty 
of fine guns and swords, and as much powder 
and good provisions as they wanted. 

In two or three days the armies met, and a 
great battle was fought. The Poles were full 
of courage and fury. Their enemies were brave 
and obstinate. But after fighting hard for five 
hours, the Russians were obliged to fly. They 
left behind them 3000 dead upon the field. 



88 STORIES OF POLAND. 

Soon after this, the Polish soldiers stationed 
in a fort at Warsaw, under the Russian com- 
mand, joined the cause of Kosciusko. A con- 
tinued fight was kept up on that occasion in 
Warsaw, for the space of two days. 

But the Prussians and the Austrians immedi- 
ately joined the Russians, and marched against 
the army of the patriots. This was now en- 
camped about nine miles from Warsaw, at a 
place called Pracka-Wola. 

It was here that one of his brother generals 
found Kosciusko sleeping on straw. He used 
to wear a surtout of coarse gray cloth, and his 
table was always spread with great plainness. 

Kosciusko never wore any sign of his mihtary 
power. He had no desire or ambition but to 
serve his country and fight for it. Mildness and 
modesty ever appeared in his face. 

But the cause of the patriots, even under so 
excellent a leader, did not finally succeed. On 



STORIES OF POLAND. 89 

the tenth of October, a bloody battle was fought 
at a place called Macieiowice, It was for a long 
time doubtful which army would beat. 

A general named Ponenski was expected by 
the Poles with a fresh body of troops, just in 
the heat of the battle. But he did not arrive, 
and Kosciusko, at the head of his principal offi- 
cers, made a grand charge into the midst of the 
enemy. 

Kosciusko fell covered with wounds ; and all 
his companions were either killed or taken pris- 
oners. This great man lay senseless among the 
dead, but at length he was distinguished, not- 
withstanding the plainness of his uniform, and 
was found still breathing. 

The Cossacks knew and respected him for 
his valour. They made a Htter with their lances 
to carry him to their general, who ordered his 
wounds to be dressed, and treated him with 
great kindness and respect. 

7 



90 STORIES OF POLAND. 

As soon as he was able to travel, he was 
conveyed to St. Petersburg, where Catharine 
condemned this noble patriot to end his days in 
prison. The Poles lamented his captivity with 
pubhc and universal grief. They exclaimed on 
all sides, " Kosciusko is no more ; the country 
is lost." 

When Catharine died, Kosciusko was re- 
leased from prison. He immediately proceeded 
to America, and having spent some time with 
his old companions, retired to a residence in the 
neighbourhood of Fontainebleau. He died in 
the year 1817, in Switzerland. His corpse is 
placed in the cathedral of Cracow, in the same 
chapel with the great Sobieski. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

About Constantine and his cruelties. 

My little readers would now like to know about 
what has been going on in Poland during the 
last few years. The emperor of Russia man- 
aged so as to get the kingdom of Poland united 
to his own dominions. The chief power over 
this kingdom had been for a long time in the 
hands of the grand duke Constantine. 

This man was like an untamed ti2:er. He 
gave full play to his cruel passions, without the 
least regard for the rights of his fellow-creatures. 

There was a rich and respectable Pole, named 
Woloski, the principal brewer of Warsaw. By 
some mistake, one of the clerks, without his 
knowledge, hired a Russian deserter for a ser- 
vant in the estaWishment. 



92 STORIES OF POLAND. 

The offender was found out, and the grand 
jduke ordered Woloski to be chained, and in 
this condition to work with a wheelbarrow in 
the public streets. His daughter, an affection- 
ate and amiable young lady, went to the grand 
duke to beg him to pardon her father. He 
treated her with very abusive language, and 
turned her out of the house. 

Some of the pubhshers of papers in Warsaw 
happened to say something disagreeable to 
Constantine. He sent a band of soldiers in the 
middle of the night to break up their presses 
and destroy their types. 

One of the most infamous acts, however, that 
this monster of cruelty committed, was on the 
following occasion. A litde boy in one of the 
schools, named Plater, had written on the bench 
"The third of May forever !'' This was the 
anniversary of some great patriotic event in 
Polish history. 



STORIES OF POLAJVD. 93 

This was discovered by some of the thou- 
sand spies, that the grand duke employed even 
among these infants, and all the boys were 
asked who wrote these words. Not one of 
them would betray poor Plater, and they were 
all ordered to be flogged. 

At length, the httle boy, unwilling that his 
companions should suffer on his account, con- 
fessed that he had written the sentence himself. 
The grand duke condemned him to be a soldier 
for life ; and incapable of being advanced to 
any higher rank in the army. When his mother 
threw herself before the carriage of Constantine, 
to ask forgiveness for her wretched child, he 
spurned her like a dog with his foot. 

This tyrant used often to shave t)ie heads of 
females who had displeased him. On one occa- 
sion, four soldiers were severely punished be- 
cause they hesitated to carry this barbarous 
order into execution. 



94 STORIES OF POLAND. 

He took great pleasure in witnessing, person- 
ally, the infliction of these punishments. Some- 
times he would command offenders to be tarred 
and feathered, and amuse himself with their 
appearance. 

This career of cruelty and oppression once 
met with a rebuke, in the following manner. 
Among the other men who had excited his fear 
and jealousy, was a Polish oflScer of rank and 
influence. 

This man he ordered to be confined in a foul 
dungeon, placed under a common sewer, or 
drain. There he was lingering through exist- 
ence in misery. 

This happened to reach the ears of a bold 
and upright priest, who felt it his duty to inter- 
fere, and if possible to soften the heart of the 
tyrant. He accidentally obtained admission into 
Constantine's presence. 

He then told him the object of his visit, with 



STORIES OF POLAND. 95 

great respect and firmness. The grand duke 
became very much enraged, and stormed with 
great fury. 

The priest declared that he would persist in 
what he considered his duty. The grand duke 
was astonished at his boldness, and sprang out 
of the window, declaring that there w^as a mad- 
man within. The priest was taken to a con- 
vent and confined, and the poor Polish officer 
obtained no rehef. 

I do not tell you these things because I be- 
lieve you like to read about such cruelties, but 
that you may see how much reason you have 
to be thankful that there are no such tyrants in 
the fortunate country in which you are so happy 
as to five. I do not wonder that the Poles 
resolved to rise up against such governors, and 
attempt to be free. You shall now hear about 
the late revolution, that has ended so unfortu- 
nately for poor Poland. 



CHAPTER XV. 

The first night of the Revolution. 

I AM now going to tell you about the way in 
which the present war in Poland began. 

The grand duke was afraid to hve in War- 
saw, and had taken up his residence in a palace 
in the outskirts of the city. This palace was at 
a short distance from the barracks of three 
regiments of Russian soldiers. He thought he 
should certainly be safe from attack under the 
cover of their muskets. 

Constantine had established a school for the 
education of inferior officers, in the hopes of 
destroying a national spirit in the army, and of 
cherishing a partiality for the Russians. The 
students at this school were about one hundred 
and eighty in number. Many of these, how- 
ever, engaged in a plot to overthrow the Rus- 



STORIES OF POLAND. 97 

sian tyranny, and restore freedom to their coun- 
try. 

On the 29th of November, 1830, many a 
heart beat high in the capital of Poland. The 
patriots had fixed upon that day for the com- 
mencement of a revolution. Seven in the eve- 
ning was the hour appointed for that great pur- 
pose. The signal agreed on v^as the burning 
of a wooden house, situated near the bank of 
the river on which Warsaw stands. 

Throughout the city, the patriots were on the 
watch, ready to stir up the people on the ap- 
pearance of the signal. Most of them were 
quite young men. A band of one hundred and 
twenty, who were to strike the first blow, were 
assembled in the southern part of Warsaw. 

All was ready. At the stroke of seven, as 
soon as the flame burst from the burning house, 
the first cry was raised. Many brave students, 
and some officers, rode through the streets, 



98 STORIES OF POLAND. 

shouting — ^ To arms ! To arms, Poles, and 
down with the tyrant/ 

The shout flew through the city with the 
swiftness of hghtning, and the people gathered 
from all sides to join in the cry of ' To arms !' 
At this time the hundred and twenty cadets left 
their barrack, and marched to the head quarters 
of the Russian cavalry. It w^as resolved to take 
immediate possession of all the chief gates ; and 
as the quarters were surrounded by a deep 
ditch, over which there were but few bridges, 
the Russians were forced to a difficult and 
bloody retreat. 

On their arrival, the cadets found the soldiers 
in the utmost confusion. Some w^ere saddhng 
their horses, others were leading them out; 
others were busy in securing the magazines. 
The Poles took advantage of this confusion, and 
after firing a few rounds, rushed with a ^hurrah' 
through the gates. An entire rout followed; 



STORIES OF POLAND. 99 

and eighteen hundred Russian cavahy were 
dispersed by a mere handful of boys. 

While their comrades were attacking the pal- 
ace, some ten or twelve students ran through 
the gardens of the grand duke to the palace. 
Having forced their way through the principal 
entrance, and killed one or two wretched fel- 
lows who offered resistance, they rushed to- 
wards the bed chamber of the grand duke. 
They were just on the point of reaching it, 
when they were stopped by a faithful servant, 
who closed a secret door just in time for his 
master to escape. 

Constantine went out of the window in so 
great a hurry, that he forgot to put on his pan- 
taloons. He had on his night gown and night 
cap, but was very glad to get away at any rate. 

He fled to his guards, who instantly turned 
out to pursue the conspirators. Finding they 
had been disappointed in their object, the young 



100 STORIES OF TOLAyj). 

soldiers joined their companions at the bridge 
of Sobieski, and returned into the city. 

After one or two skirmishes with the Rus- 
sians by the way, the united corps entered the 
city, singing patriotic songs, and shouting ^ Po- 
land forever.' Every where the citizens re- 
echoed their shouts with spirit, and joined their 
ranks in great numbers. 

The band was now large enough to bear a 
division, and a party was sent to break open the 
public prisons. These prisons, always guarded 
by Russian troops, were stormed; many of the 
soldiers were slain, the doors were broken dow^n, 
and the innocent victims of Russian tyranny 
were set free. 

When the city had been nearly cleared of the 
Russians, great multitudes hastened to the arse- 
nal for arms and ammunition. No resistance 
w^as offered. All the apartments were immedi- 
ately opened, and more than 80,000 muskets, 



STORIES OF POLAND. 101 

pistols, and sabres, were obtained. They were 
distributed without delay or confusion. 

Being now well armed, the people were ar- 
ranged in companies, under different captains, 
and sent to various parts of the city. Parties 
were appointed to march through the streets, 
and arrest all spies and Russian officers, who 
might attempt to fly. They arrested more than 
three hundred. 

Towards two o'clock in the morning, order 
was again restored. Most of the patriots as- 
sembled in a place called the Long Street, to 
consult on what should be done the following 
day. Here they made addresses to the peo- 
ple, who received them with great enthusiasm, 
and with shouts of ' Poland forever V 

The assembled crovv^ds then knelt down to 
return thanks to heaven. A more sublime 
scene was never described. The immense 
multitude kneeling at midnight, in the dim glare 



102 STORIES OF POLAND. 

of torches and watch-fires, and offering up 
prayers to their great deliverer, presented a 
sight which no one could look upon without 
admiration. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

Rejoicings in Warsaw. — Choice of a leader. — Description of Fulawa. — 
Prince Czartoriski. 

On the following day, Warsaw presented a 
scene of joy, which her inhabitants had not for 
many years witnessed. Shouts of 'Liberty,' 
and * Poland forever !' rang through the streets. 

At about six in the morning, the drums beat 
for the assembling of the soldiers. The public 
places were crowded with persons of all ages. 
Old men recalled the days of Kosciusko, and 
the little children, almost too young to know 
why, shouted 'Down with the Russians,' and 
brandished their mimic weapons with all the 
heart of manhood. 

The Russians were still in possession of the 
northern and southern parts of Warsaw. Two 
detachments af the Poles marched against them 



104 STORIES OF POLAND. 

without delay, and the whole city was cleared 
of the enemy before nine o'clock. The walls 
opposite the Russian troops were put in a state 
of defence, and manned by soldiers and armed 
citizens. 

When the patriots had thus freed the city of 
the enemy, they began to look about them for a 
chief, to direct their future movements. Their 
choice fell upon a brave general, named Chlo- 
picki. He had been a distinguished officer in 
his eariier years^ but had retired from the army, 
in disgust, at the conduct of Constantine. 

The choice of Chlopicki was received with 
shouts of joy. After all the leaders had de- 
clared their consent to his election, he Vv^as pro- 
claimed commander in chief. One of the patri- 
ots then deUvered an address, in which he con- 
trasted the past sufferings of Poland with her 
present hopes, and concluded with a direct ap- 
peal to Chlopicki. -^ Brother— take the sword 



STORIES OF POLAND. 105 

of your ancestors and predecessors. Guide the 
nation that has placed its trust in you, in the 
way of honour. Save this unhappy country.' 

When this ceremony was ended, the general 
appeared in a balcony before the assembled 
people. They received him with shouts of 
^ Our country, and our deUverer, forever !' The 
general thanked them for their confidence, pro- 
mised never to abuse it, and swore that he would 
to the last defend the liberty of Poland. 

Prince Czartoriski was chosen another mem- 
ber of the government. He was a noble old 
man, about sixty years of age. He was the 
proprietor of a beautiful town named Pulawa, 
about which you may perhaps like to hear some- 
thing. It is situated about fifty-four miles south 
of Warsaw, on the right bank of the river Vis- 
tula. 

The town is on the side of a hill, which de- 
clines towards the water in the form of an am- 

8 



106 STORIES OF POLAND. 

phitheatre. Meadows of long grass border on 
the river. The town is surrounded by a beau- 
tiful garden, with groves of oaks and poplars, 
and enlivened by herds of cattle, cottages, and 
shepherds' cabins, in various styles of building. 
Great parks, extending in every direction, sur- 
round this garden, intersected by beautiful ave- 
nues of linden trees. 

Here are many beautiful works in marble, 
statues, and obehsks. Among these is the tem- 
ple of Sibylla, with a magnificent statue of ala- 
baster. In one of the grottoes, also, is a very 
beautiful image of a nymph. The palace is a 
splendid building. Its apartments are large and 
rich. The prince was the owner of the largest 
Ubrary in Poland, and of the largest library in 
Europe belonging to a private individual, and 
yet open for the public use. 

Czartoriski happened to be in Pulawa, when 
the revolution broke out. Summoned to the 



STORIES OF POLAND. 107 

assistance of his beloved country, he hastened 
to devote himself to her service. In his public 
career, he was throughout the whole struggle 
just, mild, and firm in his patriotic devotion. 

He considered all the Poles as his brethren. 
He shared in all the fatigues of war, though now 
almost sixty years old. Accompanying Skrzy- 
necki in his marches, he fought at his side in 
many battles. His whole character was noble, 
and his whole conduct was valiant and high- 
minded. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

The Grand Duke. — His encarapment. — The Russian prisoners. — March 
of the Grand Duke. 

The new government now began to think on 
what was best to be done. The people had 
driven Constantine from the city, but they did 
not know how soon he might come back, with 
a great army, and endeavour to regain his lost 
dominions. On the whole, they determined to 
send messengers to the grand duke, and ask 
him whether he intended to retire in peace, or 
to return and attack the city. 

The patriots, who were sent to discover his 
intentions, found Constantine encamped with 
his army in the fields of Mokotow. They told 
him that it would be his wisest plan to depart 
quietly. If he would consent to do this, they 
promised not to trouble him, but to provide him 



STORIES OF POLAND. 109 

with every thing necessary to hasten his de- 
parture, and to assist him on his way. 

The grand duke was not much pleased at 
this kind of language, from his old subjects; but 
he was obliged to submit to it. He told them 
that he had never intended to attack Warsaw, 
and that if he should find himself obliged to do 
so, he would give them two days' notice. He 
also promised, that he would beg the emperor 
of Russia not to punish them for the past. 

This answer did not suit the people of War- 
saw. They laughed at the grand duke's pro- 
mise to ask the emperor not to punish them, and 
thought they could see to that very well them- 
selves. It seemed to them that their good 
swords were much better protection against 
punishment, than all the promises of Constan- 
tine. They repUed to him, therefore, that if he 
did not march away with his army in forty -eight 
hours, they would attack him without delay. 



110 STORIES OF POLAND. 

Order was now for a while restored to the 
city. A guard of national troops was formed, 
and posted in the different streets, for the pro- 
tection of the inhabitants. The shops were 
opened, and people bought and sold, as if there 
had been no army before the city. 

The government now sent proclamations 
through all the provinces, to tell their fellow- 
countrymen the great events that had happened 
at Warsaw. They invited the troops at all the 
distant military stations, to hasten to the capital. 
Fortifications were erected at all parts of the 
city, and every thing was put in order to repel 
an attack of the enemy. 

The Russian prisoners, who had remained in 
Warsaw, were treated with great kindness. To 
the officers of rank, and the ladies, the royal 
palace was assigned as their residence. The 
private soldiers were lodged in barracks. After- 
wards, the poorer Russians were permitted to 



STORIES OF POLAND. Ill 

go about the streets, and earn whatever they 
could by their own labour, in addition to their 
usual allowance. 

This was generous conduct in the Poles, and 
deserving of praise. They knew that the Rus- 
sian soldiers bore no ill will to them, and that 
they were obliged to obey the cruel commands 
of their tyrannical masters. And they could not 
be cruel to them merely because they were 
Russians. The poor fellows, perhaps, fared bet- 
ter in their captivity among the Poles, than they 
did under the shelter of their own camp. 

As the enemy remained before the city, on 
the second of December, and had given no sign 
of departure, the people, as well as the army, 
still continued under arms. It was at this time 
that twelve companies of students were formed, 
and paraded. They were called the Academ- 
ical Legion. 

This band of youths presented a most noble 



112 STORIES OF POLAND, 

appearance. They were all burning for the lib- 
erty of Poland, and for vengeance against the 
tyrants who had oppressed her. Many of them 
had just been rescued from dungeons, where 
the jealousy of the Russian government had 
confined them. Their cheeks were pale, and 
their steps feeble, from the sufferings of long 
imprisonment; but with the hope of freedom, 
new colour fiushed in their cheek, and their 
limbs gained new strength. This legion was 
sent to the post nearest the enemy. 

The inhabitants of the neighbouring provinces 
were now daily marching into the city. At one 
time, more than a thousand peasants, and about 
fifty peasant girls, armed with scythes, clubs, 
and every other kind of rustic weapon, were 
seen throhging from the country, and entering 
the streets of Warsaw. They were received 
with shouts of joy and gladness, and escorted to 
the Bank, to receive the welcome of the national 
government. 



STORIES OF POLAND. 113 

Another message was now sent to the grand 
duke, to request his immediate departure with 
all his troops. Constantine was compelled to 
obey, and commenced his march on the route 
that was pointed out to him. Before marching, 
he issued a proclamation to the Poles, in which 
he promised never to fight against a people 
whom he said he had always loved. The Poles 
thought that he had such a very strange way of 
showing his love, that the sooner he was out of 
their way, the better it would be, both for them 
and him. 

It was early on the morning of the third of 
December, that the grand duke commenced his 
march. Agents had been sent before, to pre- 
pare every convenience for him. In a village 
where he halted with his troops, he met one of 
the Polish patriots, general Wolicki, who was 
on his way to Warsaw. The general called 
upon Constantine, to learn if he could render 



114 STORIES OF POLAND. 

him any service, with regard to the accommo- 
dation of his troops. 

Constantine thanked him with much coldness, 
and at once began to abuse the Poles for their 
conduct towards him. He said that he had 
conferred numberless benefits on the nation, 
and " for all this, they wished to assassinate me." 

Wolicki assured the grand duke, that his 
palace had not been entered with any such de- 
sign ; that, on the contrary, no personal injury 
was intended. Constantine was still more en- 
raged. " They have driven me from the coun- 
try,'' he exclaimed, with great fury, " but I shall 
return soon, to their sorrow. Yes, Wolicki,'' 
he continued, " and you shall stay with me as 
a security for my officers, who are kept prison- 
ers in Warsaw." 

In spite of every remonstrance, Wolicki was 
arrested and retained a prisoner. He soon, 
however, formed a plan of escape. The grand 



STORIES OF POLAND. 115 

duke passed that night at the village of Graniza, 
and Wolicki was acquainted with some of the 
inhabitants* Finding a chance to speak with 
one of thenij he told him what had happened, 
and requested him to raise an alarm that night, 
as if the Polish army were in the neighbour- 
hood. His friend raised the alarm, as requested. 
The citizens began to shout, the Russians were 
terrified, and flew to their arms; and in the 
midst of the disturbance, Wolicki walked away- 
very quietly, without being observed. 

When he arrived at Pulawa, the grand duke 
was very kindly treated by the princess Czar- 
toriski. In Lubartow, he was received in the 
most friendly manner by the princess Lubomir- 
ska. An anecdote is related of this lady, which 
does high honour to her firmness and patriotism. 

The grand duke was accompanied by general 
Roszniecki, an old PoHsh oflScer, who had dis- 
graced himself by becoming the instrument of 



116 STORIES OF POLAND. 

Constantine, in tyrannizing over his native coun- 
try. He was the chief of the spies, employed 
to transmit every thing of a suspicious nature to 
the government. This man demanded, of the 
princess Lubomirska, an apartment in a pavilion 
adjoining the palace, intended for Constantine. 
With heroic dignity, the princess replied to him, 
in the presence of the grand duke, "In my 
house, there is no room for traitors." 

On the way to Lenczna, the Russians fell in 
with a party of Polish lancers. Constantine ad- 
vanced to them with great show of friendship, 
shook hands with several, and tried to persuade 
them to return with him. " Lancers," said he, 
" set a good example to your countrymen, and 
remember the duty you owe to your king." 

His display of kindness was not confined to 
words. He offered them money, and promised 
them great rewards. The lancers rejected his 
promises, and his rewards, with indignation. 



STORIES OF POLAND. 117 

" We thank you, prince/' they replied, " but we 
had rather die in defence of our country, than 
hve in the remembrance of having broken our 
faith to her." With this reply, they continued 
their march, and passed the Russian troops, 
singing patriotic songs. 

Among the other instances of patriotic devo- 
tion, in the modern history of Poland, is that of 
colonel Turno, aid-de-camp to the grand duke. 
This noble officer had served Constantine, faith- 
fully, for fourteen years. He had suffered his 
caprices and follies, with the hope of doing good 
to others. At this time of trial the grand duke 
beheved that Turno, whom he loved and valued, 
would still remain with him. 

When Constantine arrived on the frontiers of 
Poland, Turno rode up to take his leave. The 
grand duke was astonished, and at first was 
unable to speak. After some moments, he ex- 
claimed, with grief that he could not conceal, 



118 STORIES OF POLAND. 

" And will you, too, leave me, Turno ? whom I 
have loved so truly, and who have served so 
faithfully?" 

Turno replied, "I am sorry to leave your 
highness, and in another cause I never should 
leave you. But my country calls for me, and I 
must obey. You are now on your own borders, 
and have left Polish ground. There is no fur- 
ther need of my service. It is my sacred duty 
to follow where Poland leads.'' 

The grand duke continued his march, with 
his troops, to Bialystok, the capital of a Russian 
province of the same name. Here he remained 
till the opening of the campaign. In the war 
which followed, he accepted a command in the 
army, to fight against the people who had treated 
him with so much kindness and generosity. 
He perished in disgrace and wretchedness. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

The Revolution; continued. 

The fourth, fifth, and sixth days of December 
were remarkable days in the history of the rev- 
olution. Peasants and soldiers, hastily armed 
with such weapons as chance might offer, flock- 
ed to Warsaw from all quarters of the country. 
In a short time five thousand peasants were 
numbered, among whom were more than two 
hundred girls armed with sickles. 

These were days of general joy and thanks- 
giving. The rich and poor, peasants and no- 
bles, met on a common level, and embraced as 
friends. Tables were spread in the streets, 
loaded with refreshments for the strangers. On 
the fourth, the theatre was opened, for the first 
time during the revolution. 

A play was performed, called " The Union of 



120 STORIES OF POLAND. 

the two Tribes." On account of its patriotic 
sentiments, this play had been before prohibited, 
under the government of the Russians. The 
theatre was crowded at an early hour, and no 
distinction was observed with regard to places. 
Before the play began, one of the patriots made 
an address to the audience. He reminded them 
of the wrongs and outrages to which they had 
been exposed, and informed them of the meas- 
ures which the new government had taken for 
their protection and success. 

After this speech, which was received with 
cheers, and shouts of joy, the orchestra played 
Kosciusko's march. This music was at first 
drowned in the cries of the audience: "Hail, 
our country, our father, our defender, Kosciusko ! 
France, and Lafayette, the friend of Kosciusko, 
forever!" After this the Marseilles hymn, a 
national hymn of France, was played, and then 
a piece of popular Polish music. 



STORIES OF POLAND. 121 

The play was full of patriotic songs, and the 
audience joined in the chorus with the actors. 
At the end of the play, three standards, with 
the arms of the ancient provinces of Poland, 
were brought in, and folded into one, in the 
embraces of the actors, who represented the 
chiefs of the three tribes. The exultation of the 
audience then knew no bounds, and the w^hole 
theatre shook with thunders of applause. 

One of the favourite actors then addressed 
the spectators in these words : " The monster 
Tyranny, terrified by the sudden blaze of lib- 
erty, has left the den from which he has hitherto 
spread terror and death. Oh that, scared by 
this light, he may be driven farther and farther, 
nor be suffered to rest on any of the fields of 
Poland. May he retire to the dark and icy 
regions of the north, whence he came, and 
Heaven grant that he may never return to us !'' 

After this, the patriots, who had been impris- 
9 



122 STORIES OF POLAND. 

oned by Constantine for their love of country, 
and those who had been most distinguished in 
the early scenes of the revolution, were pre- 
sented to the assembly. They w^ere received 
with great joy, and carried about on the shoul- 
ders of the people with shouts. Many of the 
ladies were then brought forward, who had fol- 
lowed the cause of the patriots, or had given up 
their wealth to be expended in the cause of 
liberty. 

These scenes were affecting beyond any 
power of description. Tears of joy flowed on 
all sides. It was a moment to be remembered 
forever, by all who shared in its feehngs. There 
was no longer fear or suspicion. The enemy 
had been driven from the city, and all who re- 
mained were true friends to the liberty of Po- 
land. They wept, they embraced each other, 
they talked over their sufferings and their hopes, 
and mingled their prayers to that Being who 



ST0RIE3 OF POLAND. 123 

directs the destinies of nations, and in whose 
hands is the fate of war. 

On Sunday, the fifth of December, the 
churches of Warsaw were crowded with a de- 
vout and grateful people, imploring the bles- 
sings of Providence upon their cause. 

The most solemn and affecting ceremonies of 
this day took place at Praga, a town in the 
neighbourhood of Warsaw, from which it is 
separated by the river Vistula. Here an altar 
was erected in the open air, and mass was said 
in the presence of more than fifty thousand 
beings, assembled to praise, and pray to, God. 

The circle immediately surrounding the altar 
was composed of the twelve academical legions ; 
bands of brave and noble youths, who had de- 
voted themselves to secure the freedom of their 
country, or perish in its defence. What a glo- 
rious spectacle must this have been ! How our 
feelings sympathize in that cause, to which age 



124 STORIES OF POLAND. ^ 

lends its wise counsel, and long experience, 
and youth devotes its unwearied activity, and 
lion-hearted valour ! 

Between the religious ceremonies, addresses 
w^ere made to the people. One was by a pat- 
riot, who had suffered under Constantine, and 
had just been released from his dungeon. 
"Brethren," said he, "but a few days ago it 
was accounted a crime, to pray for our unfortu- 
nate ancestors, murdered for devotion to the 
country which had given them birth. Now, 
under this open canopy of heaven, on soil en- 
riched by the sacred blood of our fathers, we 
swear never to lay down our arms, till we shall 
have avenged, or shared, their fate." The as- 
sembled crowds then united in a patriotic hymn. 

In the afternoon of the following day, more 
than an hundred thousand people were collected 
about the Field of Mars, to witness the appoint- 
ment of Chlopicki as dictator. The dictator 



STORIES OF POLAND. 125 

was an officer first appointed in the old Roman 
republic, in times of extreme difficulty and 
peril, when there was need of great rapidity and 
energy of action. His power was supreme over 
all the officers of the state and of the army. 
His will was absolute, and his word law. 

Such was the officer, whom the Poles thought 
it necessary to create at this time. Besides an 
immense crowd of spectators, the greater part 
of the army was present on the occasion. 
Chlopicki appeared with the senators, and was 
received with shouts of joy. His aspect was 
truly venerable. He addressed the people, and 
told them that he had accepted the office of 
dictator only for a short time, and because the 
condition of the country required strict energy 
and singleness of purpose. 

" Be assured," he added, " that no selfish 
feeling has impelled me to take this step, and 
that I have consented to take it only to promote 



126 STORIES OF POLAND. 

the welfare of Poland. The truth of this I call 
God to witness. May he assist me to make my 
promise good. Hail to our dear country !'' The 
last sentence was echoed by the people with 
great clamour, who shouted with joy, " Hail to 
our dear country, and its brave defender, Chlo- 
picki !" 



CHAPTER XIX. 

Revolution^ continued. 

When the emperor of Russia, Nicholas, learned 
that his province of Poland had expelled Con- 
stantine from her borders, and was in arms to 
recover her liberties, he determined to send a 
numerous army into the country, and crush the 
rebellion at once. He first issued two procla- 
mations to his own subjects, and the Poles, in 
which he denounced the revolt as infamous 
treason, and the work of evil-minded men. 

When the brave Poles received these procla- 
mations of the emperor, their indignation knew 
no bounds. The honour and character of the 
nation were insulted by them. The people 
were roused in every quarter, and on all sides 
resounded the cry, " To batde ! To battle !" It 



128 STORIES OF POLAND. 

was with difficulty that the troops could be per- 
suaded from rushing immediately to the field. 

The command of the army was now given to 
Prince Radzivil ; for the dictator had not con- 
ducted affairs with the spirit and activity that 
had been expected. On the twenty-fifth of 
January, 1831, the troops began to leave War- 
saw, to commence the campaign, and prepare 
to meet the immense forces that the emperor 
was to send against them. 

This was one of the most trying moments of 
the revolution. When the march commenced, 
all the inhabitants of the neighbouring country 
left their homes, to witness the departure of the 
patriots, and give them their blessings. The 
plains about Warsaw, and the sides of the road 
through which the army was to pass, were 
crowded with spectators. 

In marching through the streets of the city, 
the soldiers passed between throngs of people, 



STORIES OF POLAND. 129 

lining both sides of the streets. The old and 
young, the clergy, the venerable officers of gov- 
ernment, and the children from the schools ; in 
short, an immense assembly of both sexes and 
all ages, crowded the highway, to shower their 
acclamations and prayers on the noble band, 
who were going forth to fight the battles of free- 
dom. The throng extended even to two miles 
beyond Praga. 

All the regiments passed in review before 
the commander in chief, and each soldier took 
the oath to defend the country to the last drop 
of his blood. The air resounded with senti- 
ments of the noblest patriotism and devotion. 
" Dear general," exclaimed the soldiers, " if you 
see us turn from the enemy, point our own can- 
non against us, and destroy us." 

One of the regiments, knowing that the mag- 
azines were badly suppUed with powder, at first 
refused to receive any cartridges. They said 



130 STORIES OF POLAND. 

they would furnish themselves from the Rus- 
sians. "Forget, dear general," they said, "that 
we have no powder ; but trust to our bayonets." 
Afterwards, they were persuaded to accept a 
small number of cartridges, but hoped to obtain 
a full supply on their first encounter with the 
enemy. 

The parting scenes which took place at this 
moment were truly affecting. Fathers took 
leave of their children, giving them, as their last 
blessing, the charge to be true to their country. 
" My boy," said the brave soldier, as he bade a 
farewell to his family, " my boy, forget not the 
last words you may ever hear from my lips. 
Let your first and only thought be for the free- 
dom of Poland. If I fall, avenge my death ; if I 
live, it will only be to share with you the joys 
and blessings of liberty." 

That night there was many a sad heart in 
Warsaw. Mothers kissed their offspring, as 



STORIES OF POLAND. 131 

they lay in the quiet of innocent sleep, and 
thought that a few hours might see them father- 
less. But if there was much sadness, there was 
little repining or regret. The Polish women 
behaved with a firmness and courage that re- 
flect great honour on their character. They 
considered the death of the parent a less evil 
than the slavery of the child. 

In the camp, too, there was many a sad 
heart; but it was nerved with the strength of 
Valour, and patriotism. The soldiers, as they 
lay on their straw pallets, or went the rounds of 
their night watches, thought of the wife and 
little ones, in whom their whole hfe was cen- 
tered, and who were the dearest objects of their 
love. They then thought of Poland. They 
remembered her ancient glory, and her present 
shame, and swore by the home which they 
loved, that they would restore her to liberty or 
die in the attempt. 



CHAPTER XX. 

Story of Antoinette. 

The Russian emperor sent an army of about 
200,000 men, to overrun and ravage his revolted 
provinces of Poland. Many and severe were 
the struggles which followed ; and many were 
the examples of heroic virtue and firmness, 
which made the war of the revolution glorious. 
The Pohsh women were eager to share the 
perils, and the triumphs, of their brethren. 
They proposed to form companies, under the 
command of ladies of the most distinguished 
famiUes, to march in the rear of the army, and 
on the days of battle to carry off and reheve the 
wounded. This offer was not accepted ; but it 
serves to show the enthusiasm which pervaded 
the whole nation. 



STORIES OF POLAND. 133 

Antoinette Tomaszewska was born in 1814, 
in the district of Rosienia, in Samogitia. The 
daughter of noble and wealthy parents, she was 
educated in the convent of Krose, by the nuns 
of the order of St. Benedict. Her stature was 
small, but finely proportioned. Large and ex- 
pressive blue eyes ht up her beautiful face, 
which still wore an air of melancholy. But her 
soul was that of a heroine. 

She had long been distinguished among her 
young companions, for romantic enthusiasm, and 
devotion to the land which had given her birth. 
With the utmost eagerness and delight, she lis- 
tened to the tales of Poland's ancient glory, and 
shed bitter tears over the history of her wrongs 
and misfortunes. At these recitals, her eyes 
would sparkle with patriotism and indignation, 
and her heart panted with the desire of revenge. 

When this hour at length arrived, Antoinette 
was scarcely sixteen ; but on the first news of 



134 STORIES OF POLAND. 

the rising in Warsaw, her resolution was taken. 
Forgetful of her tender age, her sex, and her 
weakness, she disregarded even the tears of her 
family, in the thought of her country. She 
quitted her convent, and addressing a last fai-e- 
well to the happy scenes of her childhood, she 
joined the army of one of the insurgent chiefs. 

When Antoinette arrived in the camp, it re- 
sounded with shouts of sympathy and admira- 
tion. Men knew not which most to wonder at, 
her great beauty or exalted patriotism. But it 
was not her object to excite their wonder. 
Faithful to the noble feelings that prompted her, 
she went immediately to the chief, explained to 
him her motives and wishes, and demanded a 
horse and arms. 

In spite of every objection, they w^ere obliged 
to yield to her entreaties. She was enlisted in 
a body of horse, and in a few days could wield 
a lance as well as any of her companions. From 



STORIES OF POLAND. 135 

that moment she was entirely devoted to the 
service of her country. 

Attached as a private soldier to the corps of 
Gruzewski, clothed in the uniform, and armed 
from head to foot, she was present with the 
corps in every action, and gallantly braved both 
danger and death. In a charge which was 
made at Maukuni in Samogitia, the young hero- 
ine performed prodigies of valour. 

In this action, a regiment of Circassian cav- 
alry severely harassed the rear of the Polish 
columns. Unable to keep the field against an 
enemy ten times more numerous, it became 
necessary to check the violence of the pursuit. 
The Polish cavalry were in consequence order- 
ed to charge the Circassians. 

Antoinette rushed forward with them. Her 
eyes flashing fire, her face burning with rage, 
she penetrated into the thickest of the enemy's 
ranks, giving an example of courage to her 



136 STORIES OF POLAND. 

countrymen, which insured them success. On 
returning to the camp, the young heroine was 
received amid long and enthusiastic hurrahs. 

When the PoUsh arms met with reverses, 
Antoinette was unmoved. Following the re- 
treat of the army, she distinguished herself in 
several skirmishes, and received the epaulets of 
a sub-Ueutenant, as a reward for her bravery. 
Possessing the noblest quahties of a warrior, she 
was a model of patience and resignation, during 
the periods of difficulty and distress. 

She consoled her companions by holding out 
to them the hope of a brighter future. Through- 
out a harassing retreat, amid fatigues and priva- 
tions of every kind, no complaint or regret es- 
caped her lips. One might have almost sup- 
posed that she had been educated to the trials 
of a camp. 

At length, when even hope was lost, and 
nothing more was to be done, Antoinette fol- 



STORIES OF POLAND. 137 

lowed the fatal fortunes of the army, and enter- 
ed Prussia with the corps of general Rohland. 
There, on the recital of her adventures and her 
exploits, she became an object of universal in- 
terest and hospitaUty. Both Poles and Prus- 
sians gazed with wonder upon a maiden, who 
had made a campaign as a private soldier, and 
at the point of the lance gained the epaulets of 
a sub-heutenant. 

Antoinette has since married a Polish officer, 
a warm admirer of her heroism and virtue. 
Sorrow for the fate of her unhappy country is 
now mingled with the feelings of a wife and 
mother ; but she can never forget the wrongs 
and the miseries of Poland. 



10 



CHAPTER XXI. 

Fall of Warsaw. — Conclusion. 

The story of the revolution is soon told. Bat- 
tle followed battle, in which the Poles fought 
wdth desperate valour, and sometimes with bril- 
liant success. Prince Radzivil resigned his 
command, and Skrzynecki, then only a colonel, 
w^as appointed in his place. The cause of Po- 
land then gained strength. Foreign nations 
looked on, without interference. Austria forgot 
the inroad of the Turks, and the deliverance of 
Vienna by Sobieski. 

Days of reverse and ill fortune came. The 
barbarous thousands of Russia poured into de- 
voted Poland, and notwithstanding the breaking 
out of a pestilence, and the death of their cele- 
brated general, Diebitsch, they marched to the 



STORIES OF POLAND. 139 

very gates of Warsaw. After a bloody defence, 
the capital fell, and on the seventh of Septem- 
ber the enemy entered the city in triumph. 

At the storming of Warsaw, the principal 
battery Avas defended by only two battalions, 
with a desperate valour that has never been 
surpassed. When it was beyond a doubt that 
the city must surrender, several privates of the 
artillery seated themselves on barrels of powder, 
to which they applied the torch with their own 
handso 

General Sovinski made a display of heroism, 
that was worthy of a better fate. Having lost 
one foot, he was seated, at his earnest request, 
on the altar of a church, that was defended to 
the last moment with the noblest courage. Here 
he continued to give orders, till all his compan- 
ions had perished. Then, drawing forth two 
pistols, with one he shot a soldier of the ene- 
my, who was rushing furiously against him, and 



140 STORIES OF POLAND. 

fired the other through his own heart, with the 
exclamation, — " So dies a PoUsh general !" 

Now came the time of vindictive and cruel 
punishment. The Russian emperor had again 
reduced his revolted provinces to subjection, 
and the movers of the revolution were to reap 
the reward of their patriotic devotion. Many 
distinguished Poles were sent into the interior 
of Russia and Siberia. Many of all ranks emi- 
grated, some to France, some to England, and 
some to the United States. One of them, ma- 
jor Hordynski, wrote an account of the revolu- 
tion, in which I have found many of my stories. 

Of these unfortunate men, great numbers 
were thrown into prison, and are still suffering 
the pains of captivity. Such is the present con- 
dition of Poland; she is a Russian province, 
and her subjects are either wandering in foreign 
countries, or pining in bondage at home. 

You may ask, what do we, children of the 



STORIES OF POLAND. 141 

United States, care about poor Poland? We 
are well fed and well clothed, go in peace to 
school and to church, have good books to read, 
and are contented and happy. 

It is true that you possess all these blessings, 
and enjoy them so freely that you too often for- 
get to be grateful for them. They are scattered 
over our happy country, with as much liberality 
as are the sunbeams and the showers, which 
enrich our fields and crown them wdth plenty. 

Compare your condition with that of the 
children of Poland. Their fathers are banished 
from their country, or are slaves on the soil 
which gave them birth. Their houses are not 
peaceful and happy homes, but are open to the 
spies and soldiers of a cruel and revengeful gov- 
ernment. They are Uable to be taken day or 
night, and cast into dungeons, or sent to the 
frozen regions of Siberia. There is no confi- 
dence, no repose, no hope for them ; and will 



142 STORIES OF POLAND. 

not be, till, by some more fortunate struggle, 
they shall drive the Russians from their borders, 
and become an independent people. 

Remember, then, the blessings you enjoy as 
the children of a free nation. Be grateful to 
Providence that your lot has fallen in such 
pleasant places. Grow up in the thought that 
you are among kind friends, and dvv^ell in happy 
homes. And when the day comes, in which 
you will yourselves mingle in the active affairs 
of life, remember that the blessings you have 
received you are to impart, and that other and 
distant nations have claims upon your warmest 
sympathy. 



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